Ancient Limerick Franciscan Abbey renovated as part of Fáilte Ireland tourist initiative

Wikipedia - Franciscan Friary Askeaton Co Limerick

(CatholicIreland.net) - Extensive maintenance works have been carried out at the Franciscan Friary in Askeaton.

A 600-year-old Co. Limerick abbey which has just undergone extensive renovations as part of a pilot programme by Fáilte Ireland looks set to become a major tourist attraction.

Extensive maintenance works have been carried out at the Franciscan Friary in Askeaton in West Limerick as part of the development of the Shannon Estuary Drive, which connects the estuary with the Wild Atlantic Way.

The Franciscan Friary of Askeaton lies by the River Deel, to the north of the village. While there is some uncertainty as to its establishment, it is believed the friary was founded either in 1389 by Gerald Fitzgerald (1335–98), 3rd Earl of Desmond and Lord Justice of Ireland, or in 1420 by James Fitzgerald (c.1380–1462), 7th Earl of Desmond.

The extensive remains of the friary and its surroundings represent an imposing medieval architectural landscape that was probably planned intentionally in the early 15th century. The friary’s cloister is intact and an image of St Francis was carved into the cloister arcade to remind the Franciscan friars of their patron saint as they went to and from Divine Office.

Among the detailed features are an elaborate sedilia in the south wall, three altar-tombs of similar design, probably built for the Desmond family or other prominent patrons, a Mass dial in the cloister, and a wall painting of Christ as the Man of Sorrows. A medieval wooden statue of the Madonna and Child and three medieval bells from Askeaton are now in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.

The Office of Public Works said that the Shannon Estuary Drive is one of the first in a series of drives currently being developed as part of a pilot scheme from Fáilte Ireland which aims to enhance the visitor experience along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The works that have taken place in Askeaton have included new chippings being laid on pathways within the building, and the cloister area has been washed and cleaned. Other works, including a general clean-up up of the entire site, have also been undertaken.

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The website Monastic Ireland has the history and short video of the friary in Askeaton which is just off the N69.

Franciscans in Syria

The Franciscans have been in Syria since 1217 - and they have no intention of leaving!

Pope Francis visits Assisi and reminds christians to seek and give forgiveness

Vatican Radio - Pope in Assisi: forgiveness can truly renew Church and world

A New Custos for the Holy Land

With the approval of the Holy See, the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) has appointed Father Francesco Patton as the new Custos of the Holy Land. Father Patton, who hails from northern Italy and has served as secretary of the order’s general chapter, succeeds Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has served as Custos since 2004.

The Custos of the Holy Land is the Minister Provincial (i.e. the major superior) of the Friars Minor living throughout the Middle East. He has jurisdiction over the territories of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt (in part), Cyprus and Rhodes without counting the numerous houses or Commissariats in various parts of the world (worth mentioning are those in Rome and Washington).

The main task of the Custos, in addition to animating the life of the friars, is to coordinate and direct the reception of pilgrims who come to the Holy Land for pilgrimage and pray at the shrines of our Redemption. This task was bestowed by the Holy See over 600 years ago. The term used at those times to designate this task was "custody" of the holy places, from which derived the terms still in use "Custody" and "Custos ".

He heads The Custody, a body made up of 285 members of the Franciscan order from 39 countries. Its territory covers Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, the Greek island of Rhodes and the monastery of Mouski, in Cairo.

The videos below from Terra Sancta News show the ancient ceremonies whereby the Custos takes up his role as Guardian of the Holy Places.

Franciscan Vocations

Friar Michael Perry OFM is the Minister General of the Franciscans OFM - he is representative of St. Francis of Assisi for us. These words of wisdom will benefit all Franciscans but particularly those men who are discerning their vocation with them.

 

You can discover more about what it means to be a Franciscan at the YouTube channel Be Franciscan and also the Irish Franciscans

Holy Week in Jerusalem - Christian Media Centre from the Custody of the Holy Land

July 15th - Feast of St Bonaventure - Blog Patron 2014

Our blog  patron saint this year is the Franciscan saint, Bonaventure whose feast day falls on July 15th.

 

 

You can find out more about him HERE.

Pope Francis apostolic visit to the Holy Land 2014 - "Ut unum sint"

 

Pope Francis is enroute to Jordan and the beginning of a very busy three day visit to the Holy Land, in a visit that will focus on Christian unity. As Catholic News Service put it recently:

The Vatican has emphasized that the pope’s main purpose on the trip is to meet in Jerusalem with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, considered first among equals by Orthodox bishops. The official logo for the papal visit is an icon of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, patron saints of the churches of Rome and Constantinople, joined in a fraternal embrace.

The pope will be visiting Jordan, Palestine and Israel and celebrate Mass in all three countries. He will meet a wide range of people, from heads of state and royalty to religious and refugees. It promises to be an extraordinary visit — in every sense of the term, a pilgrimage.

• Full schedule of the trip available here (and there will be links to speeches and addresses after the events at the same link)
• Missal of the Papal liturgies

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS) decided on the motto and logo for the Pope’s upcoming pilgrimage to the Holy Land at the meeting of the Assembly on March 11 and 12, 2014 in Tiberias. The motto for the pilgrimage is “So that they may be one”. The Holy Father has insisted that at the center of his pilgrimage will be the meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the heads of the Churches in Jerusalem. This is to commemorate and renew the commitment to unity expressed by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople 50 years ago in Jerusalem.

 

This gives expression to the desire of the Lord at the Last Supper: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23).

 

The logo also expresses this desire for unity, representing the embrace of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew, the first two disciples called by Jesus in Galilee. Saint Peter is the patron of the Church in Rome and Saint Andrew is the patron of the Church in Constantinople. In Jerusalem, in the Mother Church, they embrace. The two apostles are in a boat that represents the Church, whose mast is the Cross of the Lord. The sails of the boat are full of wind, the Holy Spirit, which directs the boat as it sails across the waters of this world.

 

The unity of Christians is a message of unity for all humanity, called to overcome the divisions of the past and march forward together towards a future of justice, peace, reconciliation, pardon and fraternal love.

 

 

 
Pope Francis (in what is becoming a personal tradition of this pontificate) made a private visit to the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major on Friday morning to pray and entrust his Holy Land pilgrimage to Our Lady. After praying for 15 minutes before the image of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani, the Pope left a bouquet of roses in her honour.
 
Perhaps it would be helpful to join in prayer for the successful and safe conclusion of this pilgrimage:
 

Prayer for the pilgrimage of Pope Francis to the Holy Land

 

Heavenly Father, you never tire of being compassionate and loving. The successor of St. Peter plans to visit the Holy Land sanctified by your Son’s birth, baptism, teaching, death and resurrection. Be with him, sanctify him, and bless him. Spread the mantle of your kindness over every stage of his pilgrimage among us, that one may see in him a believing pilgrim, a wise teacher, and a humble leader.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed for the unity of your Church, saying: “May they all be one”, make the meeting in Jerusalem between the Holy Father and the Ecumenical Patriarch an incentive to increase our efforts for the unity of your children.

 

Make the encounter of the Pope with the political authorities fruitful for justice and peace. Protect all the residents of this land and the adherents of the religions of the Middle East that they may be in accord, dialogue and cooperation for the achievement of full citizenship.

 

Good Shepherd, whose image Pope Francis carries on his pectoral cross, walking in the spirit of humility with which you have graced him deepen within us the awareness of our Christian identity, that as true disciples, we may bear witness to your Good News and your resurrection in our churches, our society, and all the world, especially by serving the sick, the poor, and the refugees.

 

Bless, Lord Most Holy, this fourth papal visit to our Holy Land, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, all the saints of the Holy Land, and the two new saints, John Paul II and John XXIII. Amen.

 

 

 
 You can follow the Pope's visit on the following sites:
 
Official website of the visit from the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries (Bishops) of the Holy Land - good site with a lot of information and background about the situation of Christians in the Holy Land
 
Official website of the visit by Patriarch Bartholomew

CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association) - Apostles of Unity in the Holy Land
 
Vatican News
 
Vatican Radio Facebook page
 
Rome Reports
 
Franciscan Media Centre and Terra Sancta News
 
Whispers in the Loggia
 
Catholic News Agency

The Anchoress

Easter Vigil at the Holy Sepelchre in Jerusalem

 

From Franciscan Media Centre:

The organ breaks the silence of the basilica, along with the church bells and the joy of the resurrection that fill the church. It is Easter in Jerusalem. Christ rises here and now. Today, just like he did two thousand years ago.


The Great Easter Vigil, the “mother of all vigils,” as the liturgy reads, takes place on Saturday morning at the Holy Sepulcher. This year, it is taking place at dawn, with the first rays of the sun penetrating into the shrine, and it will coincide with the Orthodox Easter, whose rites are celebrated in the same basilica.

[Blog Editors Note: Unlike in the rest of the Latin Church because the rules and timetable of the liturgies at the Basilica of the Holy Sepelchre are governed by the 1853 Status Quo, the Latin liturgies follow an older timetable. In this case pre-1955 when Pius XII reformed the liturgies for Holy Week and moved the Easter Vigil from Holy Saturday morning back to Holy Saturday evening. However in Jerusalem, the older timetable has to be maintained.]
The light for the Easter candle is taken directly from the Sepulcher. The deacon hands it to Latin Patriarch Archbishop Fouad Twal, who presides over the celebration. Then, from that flame, the lamps and candles in front of the shrine and those of all the faithful are lit.

After a long series of readings for the Easter Vigil, it is the patriarch himself who reads the Gospel of the Resurrection, right in front of the door where the Empty Tomb is located. In the account according to Matthew, the women are the first to receive the announcement of the resurrection.

“This is the most important place for the Church, where the Church was born, and with the presence of women, the word is spread. And even today, the first person they say saw him was Mary Magdalene and I'm happy about that.”

"There is a message: He is not here; he is risen. Jerusalem continually calls us to go beyond ourselves, to bring this message that is the heart of the Gospel to the whole world.”

In the baptismal liturgy, with the blessing of water and sprinkling of the faithful, there is a sign of hope for the Holy Land.

H.B. FOUAD TWAL
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
“It is my wish for peace: for the local church, for all the people who live in the Holy Land, peace for everyone! And I hope that the Universal Church feels committed to this peace, to this Christian community and to this joy along with us.” 

Good Friday Collection in solidarity with Church in Holy Land

(Vatican Radio)

Parishes around the world this week will be taking up the traditional annual Good Friday Collection for the Church in the Holy Land.The proceeds from the Good Friday Collection go to the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. The Franciscans have been caring for the holy sites there since 1209. They also assist the poor, run schools, provide scholarships, and conduct pastoral ministries to keep Christianity alive in the land where it originated.

In his appeal to Catholics to donate generously this Good Friday, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, said “The Collection is still today the principal source which sustains the life and works of the region’s Christians.”

Cardinal Sandri described the current situation in the region, particularly the conflict in Syria, tensions in Egypt and between Israel and Palestine as “truly precarious.”

“Every day the Christians in various regions of the Middle East ask themselves whether they should remain or emigrate,” he noted. “They live in danger and often suffer violence only for the fact of professing the faith common to them and us.” The Collection helps Christians of many different denominations remain in the region as living witnesses to Christ.

A quick look at these Franciscan websites gives an idea about the kinds of services the Good Friday Collection helps provide: www.myfranciscan.org or www.custodia.org.

Social & Charitable Activities
In order to assist Christians to remain in the Holy Land, including the poor and young couples, the Franciscan Custody has built more than a thousand residential units in multiple locations – Bethlehem, Bethphage and Nazareth. In the Old City of Jerusalem about 80 homes have been rehabilitated for Christian families. Senior Care facilities have been built in Bethlehem and Nazareth. Medical assistance is provided for the needy.

Educational & Scientific Activities

To help over 10,000 pre-K through grade 12 students, the Franciscans operate and support schools open to all, regardless of religion or nationality. Muslim and Christian students, teachers and families get to know each other and live in harmony. University scholarships for 360 students prepare them to get jobs and remain in the Holy Land as part of living Catholic communities. Some 120 young men are preparing to be priests or brothers. Still others are pursuing advanced degrees in Biblical Studies and Archaeology and Theology. Franciscan archaeologists pursue ongoing research at the Holy Places including the new projects at Magdala, the home of St. Mary Magdalene.

Pastoral Activities

The Franciscans provide pastoral care in 29 parishes in the Holy Land offering Worship, Christian Formation, youth and family programs and new parish centers in Jericho and Cana.

Liturgical, Ecumenical and Communications Programs

The Franciscan Media Center tells the story of the Holy Land through multimedia distributed throughout the world in more than seven languages. The friars organize Liturgical Celebrations for the local Christians and Pilgrims and share with other Christian communities in the Holy Land in ongoing Ecumenical cooperation.

Pope Francis grants indulgence for Holy Name Year

From Catholic Ireland.net:

A special year long religious celebration launched this month by Poor Clare nuns and Franciscans friars in Ireland has received a major boost with the news that Pope Francis has bestowed his seal of approval on the event.

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who holds the Church’s title of the Cardinal Penitentiary, has informed the Irish friars and the Galway city-based nuns that the Pope has decreed that a plenary indulgence will be granted to the Irish faithful who participate in devotions honouring the Holy Name of Jesus over the course of 2014.

Pope Francis’s interest in the Irish year of devotion is believed to be linked to his special affinity with the Franciscan charism and his own devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. On election last March, he chose to include the monogram IHS in his papal crest.

In addition to the granting of a plenary indulgence, the Pope has also decreed that the celebrations will have the status of a jubilee year.

Responding to the news, the mother abbess of the Poor Clares in Galway, an enclosed community, said they were “thrilled”.

Sr Colette told CatholicIreland.net that the jubilee was even bigger than the indulgence as it was “a sign of God’s lavish mercy. It is like the celebration of a wedding anniversary.”

“We never dreamed that this centenary would get such recognition from Pope Francis. We had applied for the granting of a special indulgence but the granting of Jubilee Year status is far beyond what we expected,” she added.

The Roman office responsible for granting indulgences, stated that, Pope Francis … “most willingly expressing his paternal benevolence, grants a Jubilee Year with the attached Plenary Indulgence”.
 

Continue reading HERE.

Our previous post about the Year of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Year of the Holy Name - 2014

2014 is the Year of the Holy Name of Jesus in Ireland for the Franciscans and the Poor Clare Federation and the wider Franciscan family. The aim of the Year is simple -- to foster a renewed reverence and devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and in so doing to deepen personal love for the Lord Jesus and faithfulness to His Gospel among all people.

The Year commemorates the centenary of the renewal in Ireland of devotion to the Holy Name initiated by Fr Francis Donnelly, OFM, of the Galway Abbey community, the Galway Poor Clares and by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Loughglynn, Co. Roscommon.

Devotion to the name of Jesus has been a strong element in Franciscan prayer and ministry stretching back to the time of St Francis, but was particularly fostered by St Bernardine of Siena in 15th century.

It is hoped that through personal prayer and reflection, preaching, catechesis, and prayer events during this year there will be a new appreciation of the hope that the Holy Name of Jesus represents for our times.

The website of the Year of the Holy Name is HERE with reflections, prayers and other resources.

The Franciscan and Poor Clare Facebook page will be kept updated on events throughout the year.

UPDATE:

Jubilee Year of the Holy Name

 

 

 

 

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From Catholic Culture:

Today the universal Church [(as opposed to Limerick Diocese :) which celebrates the feast of our diocesan patron)] celebrates the optional memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this feast is celebrated on January 2. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was removed, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial in the Ordinary Form on January 3.

The Church reveals to us the wonders of the Incarnate Word by singing the glories of His name. The name of Jesus means Savior; it had been shown in a dream to Joseph together with its meaning and to Our Lady at the annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel.

Devotion to the Holy Name is deeply rooted in the Sacred Scriptures, especially in the Acts of the Apostles. It was promoted in a special manner by St. Bernard, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. John Capistrano and by the Franciscan Order. It was extended to the whole Church in 1727 during the pontificate of Innocent XIII. The month of January has traditionally been dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.

 
You can read more about the Feast of the Holy Name HERE, HERE and HERE and Devotion to the Holy Name HERE.

30,000 welcome relics of St Anthony to Limerick

From Limerick Diocese:

Great affirmation of faith as estimated 30,000 welcome Relics of St. Anthony to St. John’s Cathedral

Young and old flock to Cathedral from not just Limerick but from across Mid-West and South

Limerick became a crossroads for a vast faithful yesterday as they flocked in endless droves throughout the day to St. John’s Cathedral to venerate the relics of the world’s most popular saint, St. Anthony of Padua.

An estimated 30,000 people visited the Cathedral from 9am yesterday morning through to 10.30pm last night, many queuing in rain outside the Church for long periods to get their chance to venerate the sacred relics.

The relics were welcomed to St. John’s as part of a six-location visit to Ireland to mark the 750^th Anniversary of their discovery by St. Bonaventure.

The Cathedral was packed to capacity for both Masses – at 10am and 7pm – while there was a constant flow of people, frequently out onto Cathedral Place, throughout the day as they queued, often in rain, for their chance to venerate the relics of the much loved saint. Large numbers of volunteers also gave their time throughout the day and night to keep the celebration running smoothly.

Reflecting on what he described as a ‘humbling affirmation of faith’, Bishop of Limerick Dr Brendan Leahy, who concelebrated the 7pm Mass, said that the numbers that turned up at St. John’s was way beyond what was expected.

“When we accepted the kind invitation from the Franciscans to welcome the relics to Limerick, we knew instantly the privilege this would be for the faithful. What we didn’t expect, however, was that they would turn out in the numbers they did. It was way beyond our expectations and a great lift for all involved in the Church. It was an edifying, humbling and comforting reminder to us that people’s faith is still so precious and strong.

“It was so heartening to see not alone the huge numbers but the great mix of generations as well. We had the very old down to the very young, in some cases infants just a few weeks old. We also had very big numbers of schoolchildren, particular in the evening after school finished, and then a very large mix of young people for our 7pm Mass. We had people not just from the Limerick Diocese but from Clare, Kerry, Tipperary, Cork and Kilkenny.

“So many people reach out at a spiritual level to St. Anthony on a daily basis and this was their opportunity to have a tangible moment with the Saint. They came here to worship, to make petitions and, for many also, to simply say thanks. It really was such a wonderful day of celebration and created such a great buzz in the City itself.”

Bishop Leahy also expressed his appreciation to the Franciscan’s for the privilege. “Limerick is just one of six locations across the island that the relics will visit on this tour. We were delighted and very grateful when they offered us this opportunity as when the Franciscan’s closed here in Limerick, the weekly Tuesday novena was moved to St. John’s, as was the statue of St. Anthony. And we also have the annual Novena here as well.

“The fact also that we had the relics here of one of the very first followers of St. Francis at the beginning of the current pontificate is also not lost on us given, of course, that the Pope chose the name of Francis.

“We must also thank everyone who made this event happen, the Franciscans, of course, the team at St. John’s, and the volunteers who helped out on the day and helped make this a really special moment for everyone who turned up. We also thank the media for helping us publicise this event as without this many, many people would missed this very special opportunity to celebrate this great moment in Limerick,” said Bishop Leahy.

The relics were accompanied by Fr Mario Conte, OFM Conv, Editor of the Messenger of St Anthony magazine (international edition). Addressing the faithful, Fr Conte said that while St. Anthony is widely revered as the Saint who helps find lost things or people, we can also come to St. Anthony asking God’s help when we lose work, lose hope, lose direction or any aspect of our life that needs replenishing.

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Coverage from Limerick Leader and Live 95FM

Habit receptions and professions out and about!

Irish Dominicans
 
The 14th of September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, is the traditional day in which new novices in the Irish Province of the Dominicans receive their habit and start their noviciate year. The next day, the 15th of September which is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the novices who finished their noviciate year make their simple profession and who will subsequently move to the student house in St. Saviour's, Dublin.

Below is a recording of the event with short testimonies of the brothers who made professions.The video below has been produced by the Dominican student brothers of the Irish province and it features the vestition and profession ceremonies in Cork recently and includes some of the testimonies of the brothers



You can read more about this good news for the Irish Dominicans at Irish Dominican Vocations blog.
 

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The Franciscans in Ireland (OFM) have also had a busy few weeks with some good news on the vocations front. 
 
On 10th September three novices began their novitiate,
 


Brothers Damien, Richard and Ronan

On Saturday 31 August friars Vincent Finnigan and David Connolly celebrated their First Profession after completing their novitiate year in Ennis friary
 

 
 
Friar David Collins celebrated his solemn profession as a Franciscan at Adam and Eve's Church, Merchants Quay, Dublin on Sunday 8 September in the presence of many friars, family and friends. You can also read more about it here.
 

 
 

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Presentation Brothers
 


Sebastian Dery (26), Leonard Derbie (33) and McSimon Azenda (34)

 
The Presentation Brothers had three men make first profession in Killarney on September 7th.
 

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The Passionists

On Sunday 15 September, in a ceremony at Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne, Belfast, thirty-one year old Gareth Thomas made his final vows in the Passionist Congregation, promising to live a life dedicated to the service of others in union with his fellow Passionists

 

Pope Francis goes to meet St Francis

"Pace e bene a tutti” – ”peace and goodness to all.”

Yesterday Pope Francis travelled to Assissi on the feast of St Francis to venerate the saint. It was a hectic kind of day with the Pope giving six addresses through out the day as he visited the pilgrimage city of Il Poverllo.

Coverage from around the web:

• The Catholic Herald has a run down on the day as it happened
• Whispers in the Loggia
• Vatican Radio English Facebook page - lots of photos and quotes 
• Vatican Information Service (VIS) - has a good summary of the days events including selected quotes from the Pope's six (!) addresses
• Peace comes by embracing the cross, Pope says at Assisi - CNA

Pope Francis being shown to his lunch seat
Source: Vatican Radio FB

Christians and the Church must strip themselves of worldliness, said Pope Francis while addressing some of the poor in the Italian hill town of Assisi early Friday. The Pope offered this message in the same hall in which St. Francis, about 800 years ago, undressed himself and laid his fine clothes at his wealthy father’s feet, renouncing his riches and inheritance in favour of a life of poverty consecrated to God

Tune into God, walk with Our Lord and proclaim the Gospel to the margins of society. That was Pope Francis’ message on Friday to clergy, religious and members of the pastoral council of the diocese of Assisi, gathered in the Cathedral of San Rufino.



 

 

Pope Francis prayed before the very same 'St. Damiano' Crucifix that St. Francis was praying to when he heard a divine calling. As he was praying, St. Francis heard a voice that said 'Francis, Rebuild my Church.' Throughout his visit to Assisi, Pope Francis has been accompanied by his new advisory council of eight cardinals.

 

 



When speaking about the need to forgive and ask for forgiveness to stay united, the Pope expressed his dismay at married couples who fight and then split up after many years together. He shared some advice for newlyweds. “Argue as much as you want, if the plates start flying, so be it. But never let the day end without making peace. Never!”

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HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS

MASS ON THE FEAST OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
BASILICA OF ST FRANCIS
4 OCTOBER 2013

I give you thanks, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to babes” (Mt 11:25).

Peace and all good to each and every one of you! With this Franciscan greeting I thank you for being here, in this Square so full of history and faith, to pray together.

Today, I too have come, like countless other pilgrims, to give thanks to the Father for all that he wished to reveal to one of the “little ones” mentioned in today’s Gospel: Francis, the son of a wealthy merchant of Assisi. His encounter with Jesus led him to strip himself of an easy and carefree life in order to espouse “Lady Poverty” and to live as a true son of our heavenly Father. This decision of Saint Francis was a radical way of imitating Christ: he clothed himself anew, putting on Christ, who, though he was rich, became poor in order to make us rich by his poverty (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). In all of Francis’ life, love for the poor and the imitation of Christ in his poverty were inseparably united, like the two sides of a coin.

What does Saint Francis’s witness tell us today? What does he have to say to us, not merely with words – that is easy enough – but by his life?

1. His first and most essential witness is this: that being a Christian means having a living relationship with the person of Jesus; it means putting on Christ, being conformed to him.

Where did Francis’s journey to Christ begin? It began with the gaze of the crucified Jesus. With letting Jesus look at us at the very moment that he gives his life for us and draws us to himself. Francis experienced this in a special way in the Church of San Damiano, as he prayed before the cross which I too will have an opportunity to venerate. On that cross, Jesus is depicted not as dead, but alive! Blood is flowing from his wounded hands, feet and side, but that blood speaks of life. Jesus’ eyes are not closed but open, wide open: he looks at us in a way that touches our hearts. The cross does not speak to us about defeat and failure; paradoxically, it speaks to us about a death which is life, a death which gives life, for it speaks to us of love, the love of God incarnate, a love which does not die, but triumphs over evil and death. When we let the crucified Jesus gaze upon us, we are re-created, we become “a new creation”. Everything else starts with this: the experience of transforming grace, the experience of being loved for no merits of our own, in spite of our being sinners. That is why Saint Francis could say with Saint Paul: “Far be it for me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14).

We turn to you, Francis, and we ask you: Teach us to remain before the cross, to let the crucified Christ gaze upon us, to let ourselves be forgiven, and recreated by his love.

2. In today’s Gospel we heard these words: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Mt 11:28-29).

This is the second witness that Francis gives us: that everyone who follows Christ receives true peace, the peace that Christ alone can give, a peace which the world cannot give. Many people, when they think of Saint Francis, think of peace; very few people however go deeper. What is the peace which Francis received, experienced and lived, and which he passes on to us? It is the peace of Christ, which is born of the greatest love of all, the love of the cross. It is the peace which the Risen Jesus gave to his disciples when he stood in their midst and said: “Peace be with you!”, and in saying this, he showed them his wounded hands and his pierced side (cf. Jn 20:19-20).

Franciscan peace is not something saccharine. Hardly! That is not the real Saint Francis! Nor is it a kind of pantheistic harmony with forces of the cosmos… That is not Franciscan either; it is a notion some people have invented! The peace of Saint Francis is the peace of Christ, and it is found by those who “take up” their “yoke”, namely, Christ’s commandment: Love one another as I have loved you (cf. Jn 13:34; 15:12). This yoke cannot be borne with arrogance, presumption or pride, but only with meekness and humbleness of heart.

We turn to you, Francis, and we ask you: Teach us to be “instruments of peace”, of that peace which has its source in God, the peace which Jesus has brought us.

3. “Praised may you be, Most High, All-powerful God, good Lord… by all your creatures (FF, 1820). This is the beginning of Saint Francis’s Canticle. Love for all creation, for its harmony. Saint Francis of Assisi bears witness to the need to respect all that God has created, and that men and women are called to safeguard and protect, but above all he bears witness to respect and love for every human being. God created the world to be a place where harmony and peace can flourish. Harmony and peace! Francis was a man of harmony and peace. From this City of Peace, I repeat with all the strength and the meekness of love: Let us respect creation, let us not be instruments of destruction! Let us respect each human being. May there be an end to armed conflicts which cover the earth with blood; may the clash of arms be silenced; and everywhere may hatred yield to love, injury to pardon, and discord to unity. Let us listen to the cry of all those who are weeping, who are suffering and who are dying because of violence, terrorism or war, in the Holy Land, so dear to Saint Francis, in Syria, throughout the Middle East and everywhere in the world.

We turn to you, Francis, and we ask you: Obtain for us God’s gift of harmony and peace in this our world!

Finally, I cannot forget the fact that today Italy celebrates Saint Francis as her patron saint. The traditional offering of oil for the votive lamp, which this year is given by the Region of Umbria, is an expression of this. Let us pray for Italy, that everyone will always work for the common good, and look more to what unites us, rather than what divides us.

I make my own the prayer of Saint Francis for Assisi, for Italy and for the world: “I pray to you, Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies: Do not look upon our ingratitude, but always keep in mind the surpassing goodness which you have shown to this City. Grant that it may always be the home of men and women who know you in truth and who glorify your most holy and glorious name, now and for all ages. Amen.” (The Mirror of Perfection, 124: FF, 1824).

The Monks of Moyross on EWTN

We have gotten a lot of unexpected traffic recently looking for the Monks of Moyross to the extent if you google "Monks of Moyross", SS102fm is third or fourth on the list! So we were curious as to what had triggered this interest and discovered that EWTN recently did a show about the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal who have a community in Moyross in Limerick City.

Also looking around the web we came across a couple of other articles and videos of interest on the friars and their work in Moyross:

• Brothers from the Bronx take on a tough Irish town
• And from the New York Times here
• Irish Central

Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal come to Ireland

Limerick people have become familiar with our Moyross Monks (officially known as the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal) who can be spotted now and again around the city and you find out about their work in Limerick HERE.

Well their extended family is about to expand in Ireland with the arrival of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal who are opening a community in Drogheda.
 
The Irish Catholic had the story:

The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal will open a new convent in Drogheda, Co. Louth this month.

Four members of the congregation are currently making final preparations to reside at their new home next to St Mary’s church in St James Street.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal today have four communities, three in the United States in addition to a convent in Leeds in England. The congregation was established 25 years ago by Fr Andrew Apostoli in the Bronx area in New York. The community strives to live according to the ideals of St Francis as handed on by the Capuchins. The sisters work to evangelise and with the homeless and the poor.

In a statement to The Irish Catholic this week on the new departure for the CFR, the congregation’s Mother Superior expressed her joy at its arrival in Ireland.

“We are thrilled for the opportunity for the community to come to Ireland and we can’t wait to get there.”

The CFR sisters will attend a special Mass of welcome in Drogheda on August 15.

 You can continue reading the story at the link.

The sisters have a community in Leeds in England and the BBC did a documentary on Young Nuns which followed the stories of two women in their early twenties as they prepare to become nuns one of whom was a Franciscan Sister of the Renewal - Sr Jacinta.

Sister Jacinta grew up in Northampton. She joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in her late 20s - one of Britain's most youthful religious communities. She speaks about how her initial desire to become a nun was tempered by fear of how it would change her life. You can see an excerpt from the programme HERE.

October 4th - Feast day of St Francis of Assisi - Updated

Source: Dan Lacey

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

October 4th is the feast day of St Francis of Assisi one of the most popular saints in the church and the above prayer is often wrongly attributed to him!
Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a slightly different worded version of this popular prayer which she used in her speech to the UN in 1985:

Make us worthy Lord to serve our fellow men throughout the world,

who live and die in poverty and hunger.

Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread

and by our understanding love give peace and joy.

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.

That where there is hatred I may bring love,

That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness,

That where there is discord, I may bring harmony,

That where there is error I may bring truth,

That where there is doubt I may bring faith,

That where there is despair I may bring hope,

That where there are shadows I may bring light,

That where there is sadness I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,

To understand than to be understood,

To love than to be loved.

For it is by forgetting self that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven,

it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Amen.

From the saint himself (courtesy of The Deacons Bench):

“Let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God’s sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father’s children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

– St. Francis of Assisi, in a letter to the faithful, in today’s Office of Readings for his feast

Couple of links which may be of interest:

• Blue Eyed Ennis - Phil has an astounding round up of links, videos and reflections on St Francis.
• Dating God - The Transitus: St. Francis Embraces Sister Death
• The Anchoress has a couple of interesting links and reflections
• Over at Huffington Post - Living the 'Prayer of St. Francis' With All of Creation

5th August 2012 - An interview with Bishop Michael Lenihan - From West Limerick to Honduras

Bishop Michael Lenihan - Source

On this weeks programme John has a recording of a recent visit to by Abbeyfeale native Bishop Michael Lenihan OFM who was on a visit home from his diocese in Honduras. Bishop Michael was only appointed a bishop back in December 2011.

On December 30, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI erected the new Diocese of La Ceiba in Honduras, with territory taken from the diocese of San Pedro Sula, making it suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, and appointed Rev. Fr. Michael Lenihan, O.F.M. former Vicar General and Pastor in the Diocese of Comayagua Honduras as first Bishop of the new Diocese of La Ceiba.

Rev. Fr. Michael Lenihan, O.F.M, was born on September 22, 1951 in Abbeyfeale, in the diocese of Limerick (Ireland). After his primary and secondary studies, he entered the Franciscan novitiate in 1972, he studied philosophy at the National University of Galway, Ireland (1973-1976), and theology in Rome at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (1976-1979), and at the Pontifical Gregorian University (1979-1980). He made his solemn Profession in the Order of Friars Minor on 17 September 1977 and was ordained a priest on July 12, 1980. He belongs to the Franciscan Province of the Friars Minor of Central America and Panama.

After ordination, he has held the following positions: 1980-1982: Director of the Spiritual College Multyfarnham, Ireland; 1982-1984: Vicar of the Convent, Wesford, Ireland; 1984-1989: Parish Vicar of the Parish of St. Francis in Gotera, Morazán, diocese of San Miguel, El Salvador; 1989-1997: Guardian and Pastor of the Parish of St. Francis in Gotera, Morazán, diocese of San Miguel, El Salvador; 1997-2000: Guardian and Parish Vicar, La Palma, Chalatenango, El Salvador; 2000-2009: Guardian and Pastor of the Parish of Santos Martires, Comayagua, Honduras; 2004-2008: Provincial Councilor of the Region of Honduras; 2001-2009: Vicar General of the diocese of Comayagua; since 2009: Guardian of the Fraternity of St. Bonaventure of the Provincial Curia of the Friars Minor and Vicar of the Parish of the Parish Inmaculada Corazón de María, Guatemala.

The new diocese of La Ceiba (nom. lat. Ceiben/sis/), includes 2 civilian Departments Atlantida and Islas de la Bahia, with 12 municipalities. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa. San Isidro Labrador Parish Church of La Ceiba becomes the Cathedral of the new diocese.

Bishop Michael was consecrated bishop on 11th February 2012 by Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriquez and his co consecrators Bishop Angel Garachana of San Pedro and the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Luigi Bianco

This weeks podcast available HERE.

Coverage about Bishop Michael:

SacredSpace102fm
Limerick Leader
Weekly Observer

 Photos of the ordination ceremony from Irish Franciscans.