Episodes
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Join Dr. Patty Jimenez as she shares the joys of being raised with Franciscan values, translates theological terms and teachings into everyday language, and the creates spaces of belonging for young Latina woman raised in the United States.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/etFD7Z-4Vsw
From Patty Jimenez’ interview:
“When I returned to school I am reading Bonaventure, Scotus, and Francis and Clare's writings, I'm going, some of this stuff is pretty lofty. But when I broke it down to the essentials of hospitality, of care for creation, this is what my family lived every day, especially the women in my family; it was really powerful to see that written theologically, to see that expressed and be like, oh yeah, this is us.”
Regarding moving between cultures: “I think first is to not make assumptions. It's really important to ask a lot of questions. Oftentimes people just kind of jump in based on what is on the surface level, but they don't really know what's behind it. … I've seen that happen over and over again in so many situations, making assumptions about other people without taking consideration about what we are doing or not doing that is causing what's happening.”
“When you deal with a lot of cross-cultural issues, oftentimes just feeling heard causes a shift. That's sometimes all people need, is to be heard.”
“We all belong. If we've ever felt that we didn't, it's usually because we haven't been adequately provided for or cared for. That has resonated for me as a Latina that's been raised here in the United States. And so I take a huge responsibility now of how do I create belonging for US born and raised Latinas. At times we have to, if we feel like, ‘hey, I don't belong’, maybe it's the Spirit that's moving us to create spaces of belonging for others.”
Vernacular theologian: “How do you translate really lofty theological terms or teachings into everyday terms so that anyone can understand it? And so for me it's translated in what we Latina theologians or pastor ministers speak of la vida cotidiana, our everyday life. And so how do we integrate it and speak in a language that is accessible to most people nowadays?”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Brother Ed Dunn and las Posadas at the Border: read about the impact of the San Diego and Tijuana border experience in Patty’s life: http://www.ushispanicministry.com/la-posada-at-the-border/
Franciscan School of Theology: “There is a hidden treasure in Catholic Theology called the “Franciscan Tradition.” As Pope Francis reminds us, St. Francis of Assisi is a saint of peace, a saint of the poor, a saint respectful of each person’s God-given uniqueness, and a saint with a great love for all God’s creatures.” See: https://www.fst.edu/about/
Secular Franciscans: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/ . You may also find it interesting to listen to Carolyn Townes’ reflections on being a Secular Franciscan in Episode 27, including links to further information at https://engagingfranciscanwisdom.org/walking-the-path-of-grief-and-loss-to-joy-as-a-lay-franciscan-episode-27
Francis and the Sultan: a contemporary telling of the story: https://cac.org/francis-and-the-sultan-2019-10-10/ . An original source: The Life of Saint Francis XX:57, by Thomas of Celano at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/672-fa-ed-1-page-231#ges:searchword%3Dsultan%26searchphrase%3Dall%26page%3D1
Wolf of Gubbio: read in The Deeds of Blessed Francis & His Companions XXIII, FA:ED, vol. 3, pp. 482-485 at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-deeds-of-blessed-francis-and-his-companions-1328-1337/2386-fa-ed-3-page-485
Restorative Justice: there is much information online. A sample description: “The three core elements of restorative justice are the interconnected concepts of Encounter, Repair, and Transform. Each element is discrete and essential. Together they represent a journey toward wellbeing and wholeness that victims, offenders, and community members can experience. Encounter leads to repair, and repair leads to transformation.” See: https://restorativejustice.org/what-is-restorative-justice/
Recetas: This initiative, founded by Patty, is dedicated to empowering Latinas to live joyous, well-balanced lives while deepening connections with themselves, their community, and their culture. Consider seven areas of wellness: emotional, environmental, personal, physical, professional, psychological and spiritual. See: https://recetonas.com . To see their shop: https://shop.recetonas.com . Handles for all social media: @therecetonas
Centering Prayer is a contemporary form of contemplative prayer. See: http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/. Consider also a smart phone app called “Centering Prayer,” offered by Contemplative Outreach. You will find many regional websites online listing area centering prayer groups. For those who live in Minnesota, see: https://www.minnesotacontemplativeoutreach.org/groups.html
Vernacular Theology: “Bernard McGinn … coined the term Vernacular Theology. This form of theology focused on an audience of ordinary women and men who sought to find God in their daily experiences instead of the educated elite or the monks and nuns in the enclosure.” Excerpt from Francis as Vernacular Theologian by Dominic Monti, OFM: https://www.franciscantradition.org/images/stories/custodians/03_Francis_as_Vernacular_Theologian.pdf
Patty Catholic School photo
Patty Jimenez being confirmed in Mexico
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Join Franciscan Associate Arlen Casco as she narrates in video form what we’re calling “Christmas in February: a journey through Latin America.” It will be an exploration by several Associates of how Christmas, that is, the coming of Jesus among us as a human being, is celebrated in their respective countries of Mexico, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela. The video is spoken in Spanish and subtitled in English, while the audio is in Spanish.
For the original video version with English subtitles, see: https://youtu.be/3X6kH4YLhME
We hope you find a welcome in this bonus episode of word, song and visuals. You will be led on this journey by Franciscan Associate Arlen Casco in Nicaragua who interviews Sol, Beni, Estrella, Camilo and Maria José, and has produced this lovely window into cultural expressions and traditions across Latin America.
This episode is the first of an occasional series called TAO, an acronym for “Testimonios Actuales y Ordinarios” which in English means “Current and Ordinary Testimonies.” While these episodes will continue to be produced in Latin America especially for Spanish-speaking Associates, they will be shared with subtitles in English as bonus episodes on Engaging Franciscan Wisdom.
Special Note: If you speak Spanish, you may want to look up the Spanish versions of each Engaging Franciscan Wisdom podcast. The same Franciscan Associate Arlen Casco coordinates the Spanish version; see Sabiduria Franciscana
For further information, please email: [email protected].
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Missing episodes?
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Join Franciscan Sister Callista Robinson as she breaks open her experience as an African American woman of faith, rooted in her own culture. A life-long learner and teacher, her hospitality and compassion serve to build bridges of relationships across cultures.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/x9N0uDm-A_E
From Sister Callista’s interview:
“Franciscan values of compassion, serving the very poor and underserved, have really influenced me as a Franciscan Sister. And peacemaking and social justice, those are Franciscan values. It seems to me you cannot talk to a Franciscan without hearing that person say something about social justice and how we have to go out to those who are not served. … Another Franciscan value that we have is we’re very hospitable.”
Wisdom to share: “Have a conversation with God, which we call prayer, an open and honest conversation where you let God do the talking and you do the listening. And from there each person will receive the wisdom that they need, whether that is to be more trustful, to be more compassionate, to be more accepting of others from a different culture, whatever that might be. Listening and talking with God – but more listening rather than talking.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Sr. Callista Robinson, OSF – 35th Annual Black Excellence Awards Honoree: https://milwaukeetimesnews.com/35th-annual-black-excellence-awards/honorees/sr-callista-robinson-osfSchool Sisters of Saint Francis: https://www.sssf.org/
Loretto Academy, Chicago, an integrated high school for girls: https://www.preservationchicago.org/loretto-academy-institute-of-the-blessed-virgin/
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel; their mission was to evangelize and educate African Americans and Native Americans:https://www.katharinedrexel.org/st_katharine_drexel_overview/founding-of-the-sisters-of-the-blessed-sacrament/
Saint Anselm Catholic School, Chicago: https://stanselmchicago.com/?page_id=7
Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, history: https://www.fslf.org/aboutus;
Sister Thomasine Schmolke: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/little-falls-franciscan-sister-writes-new-history-of-her-community
Vatican Council II: a five-minute video about the Council by Franciscan friar Casey Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyVq1hnxAqg .To hear other podcast guests references as well as to see show note links (click on ‘Read More’), type ‘Vatican’ into the search bar of this website, and several options will come up to explore.
National Black Sisters Conference (NBSC), founded to support each other as African Americans: https://www.nbsc68.com/
LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious): https://lcwr.org/
Center for Consecrated Religious, at CTU (Chicago Theological Union): https://ctu.edu/cscl/
Network: https://networklobby.org/about/catholicsocialjustice/
Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Milwaukee: https://www.stfrancismil.org/
Brother Booker Ashe Lay Ministry Program, Milwaukee: https://blackandindianmission.org/news/congrats-brother-booker-ash-lay-ministry-graduates
Adult Learning Center, Milwaukee: https://www.alcmke.org/
Black History Month: https://asalh.org/about-us/origins-of-black-history-month - also see: https://blackhistorymonth.gov/
Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, Archdiocese of Milwaukee: https://www.sfs.edu/SFSHome
Dr. Antoinette Mensah, MD, Director of Archdiocesan Office for World Mission and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Archdiocese of Milwaukee: https://cx.uwp.edu/antoinette-mensah.html
Sister Callista with students from Harambee Community School in Milwaukee
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Show Notes:
Join former Franciscan Community Volunteer Nnedi Anoskie-Ogunu as she shares her learnings of what strengthens her connection with God and others, ranging from the place of welcoming communities to developing an interior spiritual life.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/z0QhmFbJ8Ss
From Nnedi’s interview:
“When I was in Nigeria, I was eager to come to the US because we'd seen all these images about the US and I was excited to experience all of it. But then when I came, it was much different from what I knew. … And then school, I faced some racism from teachers, administration, students. It was a very hard transition. That was rough. You're going through so many internal changes trying to figure out what your feelings are, and everyone is doing the same. So, we're all gonna bump into each other in very unhealthy ways.”
“I've always been drawn to community where I feel welcomed. Of course, when I was growing up in Nigeria, that was not a community that I chose, I was born into it. I was just part of it, right? And as an adult, you're able to choose where you belong or where you find belonging, and I've been able to do that. And making it part of a spiritual practice was not something that occurred to me until I came to you all in Minnesota. The intentionality behind even our gatherings was something that has stayed with me. And those gatherings are what built our community, right?”
“It's very important for me to feel a sense of community with the people that I work with; the line of work that I'm interested in doing cannot be done without community. I'm very much into social justice, and I think that none of us can survive, can thrive without being, without having belonging anywhere. And part of the work that I do through “Faith and Public Life” is to create spaces and make sure that everyone feels a sense of belonging and not excluded because of things that are out of their control, you know, their skin color, how they pray, things like that.”
“I try to be mindful when I'm in community with other people, that someone may be showing up a certain way in my community, that there are stories there that I may not know. It's up to us to continue to create safe communities, safe intentional communities, where they can bring their full selves.”
“I had been told almost all my life that I should be a nun. I think it's just because I had spiritual practice; I had a love for God and enjoyed things like that, so to them it meant to be a nun. And I always wondered why it wasn't enough that I was a lay person, and that my love for God was evident - all of us should be living a life that is evident of our love for God and our love for one another. It gave me the opportunity to come and be with sisters, see what the life was like, and see if there was something that it stirred in me during my time there. And while I was there, I discovered that you all were normal people that loved life, loved one another. I think the first night there we played a game and that was the most peace I felt in a foreign place before, and I knew that I was in a right place. And since then there was such a strong welcoming. I didn't have to explain certain things, even though there were cultural barriers. There was still a willingness and openness to learning about me that felt like this was home, right?”
“For me, when I get to a certain point with my friends, with my relationships, I feel like it's almost transcended friendship, I will call them, I'll call my friends my sisters. And so since my time with the Sisters of Little Falls, I call you all sisters. Not because of the title, but because I have also taken you as family in a way that I feel like you all have taken me as family. So you all feel like my sisters and I just, I feel blessed to be part of this community; even though I'm far away, I still feel very much part of it.”
“Names are very, very important to me because mine has been part of my journey. And it's reflected like different stages of my life. When I was in Nigeria, I went by Nnedi. I knew myself as Nnedi. I knew myself as Nnedimma. That was, that was who I was, right. And then when we came to the United States, my parents really wanted me to assimilate. And they didn't want me to have a name that would "other" me further. And I started going by my middle name. So Nnedimma is my first name. Annunciata is my middle name. And it's shortened to Ann. … it's been years in the making of me contemplating wanting to change back to Nnedimma. … I truly have shed this skin that Ann was so uncomfortable in, … So now I'm getting to know Nnedima as an adult, as a woman who has really come into her own, also now as a married person.”
“Native American spirituality and Franciscanism have been a huge part of my spiritual life right now. … Franciscan spirituality can be practiced by anyone. … In my quest to be more in tune with Care for Creation, my primary focus is with God's people because I feel if we are good to God's people, and everyone has the things that they need to thrive and there's no exploitation of people, then there will be no exploitation of Mother Earth. “
“Franciscan spirituality is it invites you into the mess, and doesn't just leave you to figure it out, right? It doesn't leave you to struggle alone. It allows you to do it with community that can strengthen you, that can support you, that can love you.”
“In the Bible they refer to iron sharpens iron and I think that is what community is. You sharpen each other to become your fullest selves. And when we do that, I think part of the hardship that we're facing is that we're not living into who God has called us to be. We don't have an interior life that allows us to explore what it is we're meant to do in a safe space and live into it without holding back.”
“What is feeding my soul at this time is getting in touch with myself, with Nnedi, as an emotional person. I think I've struggled with that in the past, being able to express the full range of my emotions without holding myself back. … What that looks like is talking to God through journaling and being in therapy. Those have been key things that is allowing me to practice or to welcome God into my life and recognize that my emotions are also gifts from God, and not see them as a burden. So being able to work through that in therapy and to talk with Emmanuel, reflecting out loud, has been very important to my current experiences of spirituality.”
“I didn't realize this part about my spiritual journey, hoping that by exploring the full range of my emotions, I can become more connected to God. I didn't realize that until I started talking and articulating it and I'm like, yes, that is the hope that I have…that is what I'm pursuing, that connection with God, that connection with myself. I can't be comfortable with the humanness of God if I'm not comfortable with my own humanness.”
[Encouragement to others] “Be patient with yourself. I think sometimes I get so impatient with not seeing the progress that I expect to see at a certain time. There's no formula to this. We're all stumbling and remembering that we're human. You deserve the grace that you extend to other people. So extend that same grace to yourself. Be patient with yourself and work on loving yourself; part of that is figuring out what makes you happy, what brings you joy, who brings you joy. So leaning into those things will help you remember who you are.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References added re: strengthening our connection with God:
1 Celano 43: “[Francis], living within himself and walking in the breadth of his heart, prepared in himself a worthy dwelling place of God.”
“Emotional Range and On-Going Conversion: Franciscan Joy,” a talk by Darleen Pryds, PhD. of the Franciscan School of Theology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4etRlkWhlhg . Darleen has also been interviewed on this podcast, and has been a guest host as well. You can find these episodes by typing her name in the search bar of this website.
Accompanying photos:
Nnedi & Emmanuel Anosike-Ogunu, 2022
Nnedi’s Grandma Josephine
Nnedi as a Franciscan Community Volunteer out on adventure with her group.
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Join Jamie Deering as she shares stories and considers with curiosity what it is to be present to oneself and others as we allow God to flow through us in the midst of different ways of thinking, seeing and being in the world.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/PZ9MDBvRbe8
From Jamie’s interview:
“One of the first and primary ways that God grabbed a hold of me and that I knew the presence of God in me and in the world, was through music. When I was four years old, I began piano lessons and when I was in elementary school, there was a choir and I was so excited to be part of this, creating music with our bodies and with our souls, which has felt to me like a special portal, a special pathway to God. … The thread of music through my entire life is what has anchored me in knowing and experiencing God's presence.”
“It was so important for me as my kids were growing up to be sure that they had this experience of the diversity of humankind and the diversity of thought and movement and ideas. … It was such a blessing and gift to be exposed to different ways of thinking, different ways of being in the world. I served in the Peace Corps, as you know, and lived in Macedonia for a little under two years. That plus my experiences in a variety of churches throughout my formative spiritual formation years was understanding the power of a community to form, to be so influential, in how our worldview, I'll stick with me, how my worldview was formed.”
“Recently a friend of mine distinguished for me this word, interdependence, and we've been having conversations. We come from different cultures and so I've been curious about, again, the formation of this person coming, growing up in a different culture. And my growing up in the American culture, in sort of a spirit of independence; this other culture was a spirit of interdependence. I've been learning more about what that is and connecting that to all the experiences that I've had; they have been helpful in pointing me to what it means to be interdependent and communal in thinking.”
“There are some things in contemplation we can do to set down striving; this concept of being with our thoughts then gets integrated in somatic presence with being in our bodies, being in my body. What is my body experiencing right now? Because our bodies live in present time. And so to the degree that I can be in my body, I can be present in present time. So there's that sense of being with. Then in spiritual direction, being with another, companioning another. Again, it's so important for me to be able to know what it is that's going on in me, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, so that I can hold space. So I can offer that space to another person for them to be with whatever is going on in them.”
“Haecceitas … this notion that we are all uniquely gifted by God for work here on earth for God. Presence in God through us, manifesting God through us in the world. I feel this mysterious, mystical, and special gift that my gifts now are partnered so beautifully with the Franciscan Sisters, and what might God be bringing into the world through us.”
“There’s an expression in contemplative prayer of the wellspring of love, the wellspring of God; that is probably the primary image that I use when I'm leading contemplation, because the wellspring is always available to us. Always. We just sit by the wellspring, contemplating the wellspring, being with the wellspring of love.”
“Living life from a place of curiosity - I find that to be very Franciscan. And expanding beyond that, the spiritual journey, to live from curiosity. To be listeners seeking to understand another, is also very Franciscan, rather than be understood. …The wellspring cultivates curiosity and the ability to be with another and hold space for another's essence, to see another in their essence.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Saint Francis, The Praises of God: https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=180
Peace Corps, Macedonia: https://www.peacecorps.gov/north-macedonia/
Contemplative Practice: see Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation: https://shalem.org/
Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Coaching: see Jamie’s website: https://soulisticcoach.com/
Haecceitas: a Franciscan term coined by John Duns Scotus re: the unique value, dignity, ‘thisness’, of every person and everything; two references: https://cac.org/irreplaceable-thisness-2018-03-18/ , and https://www.ssfamericas.org/post/a-hagiography-of-blessed-john-duns-scotus
Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota: https://www.fslf.org/
Franciscan Programs Ministry, including Engaging Franciscan Spirituality course: https://www.fslf.org/pages/Franciscan-Programs-Ministry
Third Order Regular Rule, reference to admonishing with compassion:
If discord caused by word or deed should occur among them, they should immediately (Mt. 18:35) and humbly ask forgiveness of one another even before offering their gift of prayer before the Lord (cf. Mt 5:24).And if anyone seriously neglects the form of life all profess, the minister, or others who may know of it, are to admonish that person. Those giving the admonition should neither embarrass nor speak evil of the other, but show great kindness. Let all be careful of self-righteousness, which causes anger and annoyance because of another's sin. These in oneself or in another hinder living lovingly.Sheffield train station fountain in England, image of the Trinity as fountain fullness of God; see photo below, see a YouTube of the fountain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPXt-MvN0Q
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Join Sister Meg Earsley as she shares the delight of discovery and learning through cultural immersion in intentional communities, both in the unexpected joy of religious life and in her immersion with the incredible people of Bolivia.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/11L8Oue8Y5Y
From Sister Meg’s interview:
“My community is blessed with a real attitude of inclusion. Even our constitutions have a title called Unity and Diversity. We are united as a community, but we are accepting and promoting of all of our gifts; how we find those gifts is a blessing in itself.”
“I had never lived in a larger community; before joining community, I appreciated and enjoyed living alone. My biggest fear of coming to community is like, am I going to be able to even do community? I have no idea. But I found it to be an incredible joy, although I valued my time alone because of the quiet and the only having to consider my own thoughts and ideas, being in community has a richness of communal sharing. … Living community, being in this living situation together and then being a support to each other, is something I had never experienced. This is a really good thing. This whole mutual support is something I could sure get used to. I have really enjoyed living in intentional community.”
“Unity is based on the acceptance of the diversity. … Assimilation to me means that you're going into another culture and all of who you are is expected to be folded into that and to become like that culture, whatever that culture is that you're going into. I think some of that is necessary. But there's also the other side of things where bringing your uniqueness and who you are is also very necessary when you're coming into another community, another culture. Then how do those things work together? I think that that is the joy of the whole, the phrase and the living of unity and diversity is, there's an acceptance and each person's uniqueness.”
“If I hadn't heard the call to become a religious sister, I wouldn't have ever experienced it. I would've gone through my whole life saying how much I loved being alone; one of my favorite things was to say, because I didn't have to bring other people into my emotions into my heart. At the time I didn't have a word for it, but like I don't want to have to bring other people into that space of mine because then I have to consider them. Before I do things, and I have to give them the time and energy, the love and compassion, right? And so now I've been living that for four years and I don't even know how I could ever do anything else – that's probably one of my greatest joys.”
“Can we reimagine what community looks like and how we live in community, to expand out to other religious communities, lay, or whatever? … The Franciscan Federation is looking with our Emergent Group of what does intentional community look like now, and how that's a need, a want and a desire in, for sure our country; I wouldn't be surprised at other places too. And then how can, how do we live that, and what does that look like now?”
“There is so much beauty, especially to the people, incredible people (of Bolivia). Going back to suspending judgment. I’m thinking of the word detachment, a Franciscan value; I think we might use the word here of holding things lightly. For some reason, detachment seems like, I don't care, but holding things lightly says that there might be things that are valuable.
Food safety’s a great example. People would have things sitting out all day. So even at the convent, food would just sit out, we'd have it for lunch, it would sit out till dinner, and then we'd cook it, warm it back up and eat it, right? So holding things lightly is knowing that for my culture, having a rice and chicken dish sitting out all day would be very unhealthy. We would all get sick and be in big trouble with food poisoning at the hospital. This is the judgment I could have, but the holding it lightly is to say that these sisters are … eating the food this way all the time and they're not sick. So maybe I can hold that lightly, set aside the food safety value that I came to Bolivia with, and see what happens. And you might guess, I didn't get sick, not even once, not even after the armadillo! That speaks so highly to me; I had to question then why do I think that if food sits out all day, I'm gonna get sick, right? I realized that in our culture, even having a small chance of something happening means that we shouldn't do it. In this case, food safety; so even if it was a 1% chance that that food sitting out all day might make us sick, then we probably would throw it away. So I probably won't anymore. Understanding that is a cultural value; who knew food safety was a cultural value? … The opportunity to understand that holding things lightly, detachment, might have been my greatest gift of going to Bolivia.”
“Two of the biggest gifts that I had while in Bolivia is to be able to practice the gift of presence and really concentrate wholly on relationships, without having outside things like getting things done, having deadlines or goals. I had time in a culture that was totally different to everything I understood, with the language that I couldn't always communicate in. It's harder to try to layer in my values and preferences and those kinds of things if I can't articulate them. Although I would've liked to magically been able to articulate a lot more, I think it was a really good thing because it focused me in the presence and what that actually means. It's so foundational, the start of everything; even if you go to a job, having that presence is so important.”
“How do I continue to make that foundational? Now that I've come back to the United States, how do I start to integrate all these things and, having that foundation of presence, the foundation of relationships in everything I do, how do I make that dominant or predominant in my life now and not get busy with all those important things that I need to do. How do I do that?”
“Presence allows you to see who that person is. Yes. I'll go so far as to say, see who, what that tree. Yes. Like I could walk by a tree every day and never notice it. But I stop and look, and I can see what that tree is. I can think about all the different things that is going on with that tree, whether it's the leaves or the roots, or all these different things, and I can really start to understand that tree. So how does that then translate to being present to people, right? … Through their stories and their conversation you start to understand the depth of that individual and how they radiate out into the world; you can really start to see all these connections and the absolute beauty of this interconnectedness and inner touching or touching each other, and how all those things create, I’ll say, God's kingdom….”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
--Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA): https://www.fspa.org
--Canonical and Apostolic years of the Novitiate; for information of how these years are elements of the larger discernment process for religious life, see: https://www.fspa.org/content/join/become-a-sister/discerning-fspa-life
-- Meg’s reflections in Bolivia: https://www.fspa.org/sistermeg
--Franciscan Mission Service: https://franciscanmissionservice.org/
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Join our Latin American Associate Leadership Team as they reflect together on the call to live as sisters and brothers across the Americas. Working as a team, they foster conditions for living in the spirit of Saint Francis, weaving unity in diversity—this is Good News!
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/pcnNdwxhONU
From Arlen, Veronica and Camilo’s interview:
Arlen shares: “Our main function is always to be aware of the community, and of each associate that belongs to the community. In Nicaragua we are 2 groups: one is in Managua and another is in San Diego. Although there is a long distance between these two locations, we try to always be aware of the realities of each associate, their spiritual and material needs. … We contribute in creating spaces for communication and formation in the Franciscan charism and spirituality. I think that is the richness of our functions.”
Camilo states: “It is interesting to be part of this Team, knowing that, unlike Arlen and Vero, at this moment from Colombia I am the only one in the association relationship. It has been an opportunity to meet and learn about faith and culture in the three Americas: North America, Central America, and South America. That is beautiful. We have to think about the language, about the appropriate words according to each country, in order to meet and share.”
Veronica notes: “The Franciscan charism is expressed through people who serve in the Ecuadorian Amazon, in ecclesial parishes in different places, in ministries of the Word and the Eucharist, etc. And, day by day, I see that Franciscan spirituality also has an impact in our families, to which we all belong. In this way I have seen how the community continues to grow.”
Veronica: “A year ago, was when we officially started putting our ideas together -Arlen, Camilo, Verónica- to see how to serve the Spanish-speaking associates. A dynamic of deep reflection was generated among the 3 of us. … In addition to promoting Franciscan values in Zoom teachings and circles, we put them into practice frequently. … We think about who will be in that meeting, when and what time suits better for them. And so, thinking of that specific group, we have connected. The value of Minority has been one of the bases that move our community meetings. Then we are always evaluating as a team: what is it that God did and what can we improve? We live an experience of community life where we get to know each other and discern the next call for service.”
Camilo: “I have learned to work more as a team by being part of this team. For example, something as simple as understanding that situations can arise when planning a meeting, when we can or cannot connect, and that we can overcome it together. We have learned that preparing for the unforeseen is wonderful. For example, if we cannot meet together, we can meet asynchronously through chat; it does not obstruct the work and we have achieved a very rich experience. In addition to the minority that Vero mentioned, I have learned in practice to live the simplicity that characterizes Franciscan spirituality and its great power, to think of simple exercises that can include many and foster beautiful and powerful reflections.”
Arlen: “Franciscanism is a way of life; when it takes root in your heart it is already very difficult to turn back or get out of the way because it is so valuable, it has so much wealth. I think that in the community we see each other as a family, I see another associate as a brother, as a sister, as a mother, as an uncle... because that trust is being formed, it is being strengthened day by day. I believe that when Franciscan values strengthen the community, then the community expands as well. Saint Francis said, we try to lead by example, with what we do for others and the way in which we live. This calls other people who are around us, because we have this lifestyle and they are always curious, asking who the associates are and what do they do, what is the path to become an associate? I think that this is where the Franciscan values lie.”
Camilo: “There are two things that resonate with me when considering our call: the first is in the short term and has to do with embodying or concretizing the Franciscan values in our daily life. Always in our meetings … we ask ourselves and it always moves us: today concretely, how does conversion, minority, become a reality, how do poverty, contemplation and joy become a reality, where I am? I think this is a question that we must constantly ask ourselves. I believe that Franciscan spirituality challenges us to always ask ourselves that question as a community, too, and with all the people among whom we share.
The second call that I see also has to do with our being together; it is to continue connecting beyond the borders that our countries draw, the borders drawn by languages, and even our religions. It is incredible the diversity among us and the enormous efforts that the sisters and associates are making to connect, learning to use zoom and various other technological means, learning how to communicate when some speak Spanish and others speak English, experimenting with how to build that bridge¡ That has made us connect and share courageously.”
Veronica: “Our Franciscan community is no longer located just in Minnesota. Its GLOBAL character is a feature of its own. We are very different people, from different generations, who live in different contexts. But the interesting thing is that we respond to a powerful call: to live against the current of the societies we inhabit and bring hope there, where there is despair, we live in simplicity, dispossession, forgiveness, unity in the midst of those very strong voices that tell us to “consume more”, where there is war, division. I think that Franciscan Spirituality, as a lifestyle, becomes a reality with the simple examples that we learn from our brothers and sisters: we learn to live with detachment, with solidarity, in the midst of God's creation that calls us to be ONE.”
Camilo: “I believe that our world often lacks joy, the ability to smile day by day and … feel loved, recognizing ourselves loved in our day to day. I think that particularly from what I have experienced in this relationship and the relationships that have been woven, it has been that ability to smile, that ability to live with joy, but it also depends on feeling deeply loved and how beautiful that these experiences that we are weaving can be shared and communicated to other people, in other contexts, and that they can feel that goodness and that power of the good news of love, of the joy that Saint Francis has taught us and that is the love of that God who loves us so much and so much he wants the good for all. I believe that we are weaving paths for other people, beyond whether they want to be linked as associates or not, they can share it. That is the beauty, sharing this charism.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Franciscan Associates: There are many forms of Associates, Cojourners, Companions, Affiliates who are in intentional relationships with religious communities and congregations. The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN who sponsor this podcast, have Associate and Sister relationships that span the Americas, speaking English and Spanish. Here is a brief introduction: https://www.fslf.org/pages/franciscan-associates
Saint Francis hearing the call to rebuild the church: to read the story, see Legend of the Three Companions 5:13: The Legend of the Three Companions: FA:ED, vol. 2, p. 76 (franciscantradition.org)
Engaging Franciscan Spirituality, “Involucrándonos con la Sabiduría Franciscana”: a program for growth in Franciscan life. This program is in transition with staff transitions at the Franciscan Programs Ministry. It has equipped four cohorts of men and women to strengthen their spiritual journeys in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare.
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Join Garry and JoAnn Dahl as they reflect together on what it is to choose the path of transformation and not of transaction in relationships, sharing a trajectory of growth in relation to God and others as they seek to bring peace to the planet and one another.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/FCHHS6ONP1s
From Garry and JoAnn’s interview:
Garry: “I come from a perspective at this junction in my life where I see everything as gift, that I didn't deserve, or wasn't entitled to, or there wasn't something I merited. It was purely gratuitous, God loving and manifesting God's self in creation. It seems to me that if we want to live in that image and likeness, we have to model that perspective as best we can in all our relationships. I certainly see that in our, my relationship to JoAnn, that who she is and the wonderful person that she is, has been gifted to my life to share and experience. There is a great sense of gratitude for that, but also a humility that, in the same way I didn't deserve to be born into this world; it was gratuitous. The same is true in relationship to another human being who, is on the same journey that I'm on. I have the opportunity to walk that journey in a spirit of love, that love constantly challenges us to let down our guard and open further and to love deeper and experience more completely all the gifts that God shares with us. It is incredibly humbling because it's the avenue by which as we move on our spiritual journey, we've been doing that together as a couple.”
JoAnn: “When we talk about choosing each other in marriage, it's true, I chose Garry, Garry chose me. But then in faith, we also believe that God chose us for each other. And when you have a gift mentality or modality, it's a different kind of way you receive. If you go and acquire something, that's different, but if you get something as a gift that has a receptivity to it that is completely different. It requires gratitude, openness and humility because the giver saw something in you that needed that gift. So I think that there's a whole receptivity in seeing another person in any relationship you have as being a gift to you in your life at that time, at that moment. And it makes a difference in how you interact. I think that idea of gift is a crucial kind of mindset.”
JoAnn: “Change is inevitable and some changes, I think, are the result of life circumstances. … There's a letting go and an embracing of what's next. And I really think that's part of the marriage journey and any long-term relationship. Letting go of what was and embracing what's next. Garry mentioned that continual conversion, which is rooted in an openness to be willing to let go of whatever barriers to spiritual growth you're harboring and allow God to do the work needed to change you. And that's part of that long-term marriage dance too. … We have a shared common trajectory in that we both want to grow deeper and deeper in relationship with God and with each other.”
Garry: “The idea of (being) naked before God, we're not as generous as naked beings in front of other human beings, cuz we don't wanna appear vulnerable or weak or flawed, so we guard ourselves. But in a marriage that's working, I think the other person serves as a mirror. There are parts that I need somebody who can mirror back to me that which I can't see, so that in seeing what I can't see, I might be able to grow through it, or love my way through it as I like to see it.”
JoAnn: “Transformation and relationship: You enter into the full unity, that's about relationship and God revealing God to us, and that means that it's transformational rather than transactional. … I think it's about revelation and relationship and not simply redemption. When I'm trying to tick off the boxes of doing all the right things to merit God's love, then I start watching other people and seeing if they're ticking off the right boxes too, and now I become judgmental. So it's better to be vulnerable and let God work whatever changes are necessary inside, being open to transformation and not worrying about if I exacted the right transactions this week.”
JoAnn: “Initially growing up, I thought that Francis was the easy Saint, because he's a nice guy who loves nature. Oh, that's great. I can follow that. But then I realized that Francis is pretty challenging because Francis … tries to love as God loves. That's a pretty challenging way to be—that's not the easy saint.”
Garry: “I do love that, but Francis didn't get it all right either; just like the rest of us don't get it all right. We try to find a model and a way of living our lives that will bring about the hope for fulfillment that we all desire. He helped open us to the idea of being willing to suffer on behalf of God, and especially suffer with those who are suffering in this world. We are called as Franciscans to reach out to those people as best we can to ease their suffering and to know that they don't walk in this world alone. Francis modeled that and was loved for that, and God worked through him because of that.”
Garry: “Then there's the huge challenge for all of us, whether it be you Sister Michelle or JoAnn or I, what is mine to do? What is ours to do to help bring about God's desire for God's people? And that would be his world as well, which he loves. There are so many beautiful things in creation; they were created out of that same love that created us out of love. So how do we encounter our world in a manner that we might be conduits for that transformation that JoAnn was talking about? And how do we heal this world, this time and space in God's wondrous creation? What is our role in bringing about both peace and restoration to our planet and that same peace and restoration to one another?”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Qualities, attitudes and actions important for marriage and relationships to work: Drawing from the interview, Garry and JoAnn name continual conversion, gratitude, receptivity, humility, love, openness, mutual encouragement, common trajectory of growth in relationship with God and with others, shared vulnerability, choose path of transformation and not transaction in relationship, forgiveness, make room for other to be who they are, life-long learning, common spiritual yearning, poverty, suffer with the suffering, bring peace to the planet and to one another/others.
Continual Conversion in Franciscan Spirituality: Consider this video by Darleen Pryds, Ph.D. of the Franciscan School of Theology (FST), entitled: “Emotional Range and On-Going Conversion: Franciscan Joy,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4etRlkWhlhg – video #35 of the Franciscan Vision Series (see below for general link).
Conversion, another meditation: Grows out of self-knowledge; we tend to like dramatic conversions like the story of St. Paul. For Francis (and most people), conversions may have dramatic events, but it is more a process or journey. As one’s outward life becomes humbler and simpler, one’s inner life becomes richer.
-Peace and Good through the year with Francis of Assisi, Pat McCloskey, OFM, cf. p. 67.
Why Did God Become Human? by Dr. Daniel Horan, OFM, John Duns Scotus professor of spirituality at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago: this video (#23) is from the Franciscan Vision Series; here’s a link to the playlist of many fine explorations of Franciscan Spirituality, including #23: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhm41W5jlZZQtwlhsoiM37SGFMN7Kh5QR
Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.”
Franciscan Poverty: See this introductory text by Brother Bill Short, OFM, in an excerpt from his book “Poverty and Joy”: d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net › 11001 › documents
Canticle of the Creatures, by Francis: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-and-his-canticle ; the full text is at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/related-documents/franciscan-documents/the-canticle-of-brother-sun-1225/569-ca-ed-1-page-392
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Join Brother Mark Schroeder as he is interviewed by guest host Darleen Pryds. Mark explores the priority of living in community, in peace and mutual understanding while being passionate for justice and nonviolence advocacy.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/9oKMNktEKJI
From Brother Mark’s interview:
“As a Franciscan, early on, I was active in nonviolent demonstrations, many times ending up in jail. That's beyond the way I was raised and the way I operated when I was a kid. But through that, I really realized the importance of standing up for what you believe, the importance of taking risks. I would've never dreamt of that. And my whole spiritual quest is always, I believe God invites everybody. God invited me into each of these situations so I could learn and grow and see how I handled each one, based on nonviolence.”
“The first time I was ever arrested was Lawrence Livermore lab, which is outside of Oakland, where the nuclear weapons and other weaponry are being developed. It was a Good Friday celebration up there, and that was the first time I ever risked arrest and ended up, ironically, … in the Japanese concentration camps in Livermore. They still exist, but they still had the buildings and that's where we were, a gigantic number of people. And so I've always been involved with nuclear weapons, the abolition of them. I still am.”
“One has to always be aware of oneself, what's going on. And with that, the only way I can teach about being a Christian is you have be active. Do actions that promote justice and peace and non-violence. When I'm outta whack, then it's not gonna work. So that's why I continue to do the best I can to stay focused.”
“I believe anybody that lives in the United States is an addict. It comes in different forms. But if you live in our consumer culture there's addictions, compulsions. So I do my best to stay on top of that. I'm in a 12-step group.”
“Fraternity is the most important thing we have. I wanted that always in religious life, … I've grown to realize that I live with people, I choose to live with people. I choose to interact with them daily. … It can be hard sometimes because of different personalities and I'm sure it's hard for some other friar to live with me, but in reality, it's just the joy. … With it [fraternity], I don't have really a care in the world. It's really a spiritual blessing for me to live in community.”
“Prayer together is important, but prayer has to be enlivening, not just rote and not just cuz we have to do it. Prayer is important together because it's a countercultural way of relating to each other. Communication is really important. ... Since I've been guardian, we've been meeting every Wednesday at four o'clock and a person can verbalize whatever they wanna say. They don't have to talk about feelings if they're not in the mood. I use mutual invitation and that's where one person starts and then that person picks the next person. … The guys tell me that it's really made us a community and continues to. So there's that kind of communication. Also, the friar lifestyle, having meals together is important. … I encourage every friar to have a spiritual director and or therapist if that's needed. And I always tell 'em price is no object, but to be in religious life, you can't be making decisions on your own. You have to really keep discerning God's will not your will. And the fruit of that for me, is happier, healthier guys living together.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
“Jesuits in California”: https://www.jesuitswest.org/about-us/the-jesuits/
Discernment: There are many spiritual traditions of discernment; here is a video introduction to Ignatian (Jesuit) discernment: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/what-is-ignatian-spirituality/the-ignatian-way/what-is-discernment/ - here are some Franciscan discernment resources: https://osfphila.org/discernment-franciscan-style/
Franciscan Province of St Barbara: https://sbfranciscans.org/
Fraternity: a Franciscan perspective on fraternitas in a broader social context; also as related to Pope Francis’ writing in Fratelli Tutti: https://sacredheartfla.org/2022/05/13/fraternitas-friar-reflections-the-fifth-week-of-easter/
Social Justice involvements:
Franciscans for Justice: https://www.franciscansforjustice.org/
Nevada Desert Experience: http://nevadadesertexperience.org/
Example of Good Friday Protest at Lawrence Livermore Lab: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/25/18678001.php
https://www.santabarbaramission.org/
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Join educator and health care provider, Athena Godet-Calogeras, as she is interviewed by guest host Darleen Pryds. Athena is a master storyteller of her journey ranging from urban life in New York and Chicago to the enchanted mountains of Western New York state.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/5uj2EW1-3T0
From Athena’s interview:
“[With] a Franciscan scholar by the name of David Flood, … we began to hold weekly sessions on the Franciscan movement. He's an historian. … When I learned about what Francis and Clare, what they, and the other men and women at that time had to contend with and what they did to live a gospel life, it clicked with my own experience of what I was going through and what I was seeing on the streets of Uptown, which was a very poor, a diverse, ethnically diverse community where everybody could walk the streets, whether they were from halfway houses or in wheelchairs, whatever their color. And I just loved it. …. And I tell ya, it was in Chicago that I really became a Franciscan.”
“David would come in and perhaps we'd go through a discussion of the Testament. … He would talk about it from his scholarship, from an historical perspective, as well as his absolute passion for being a Franciscan. And we would have discussion and he would give us different things to read. And at one point during those sessions we said, where else can we read more of this kind, not the pious Saint Francis talking to the birds and that sort of thing. But this, this real man, these real men, Clare, these real women, where can we read more about it? And he said nowhere. That's when a small group of us started the Franciscan magazine in 1977 called Haversack.”
“I recall walking one day down Uptown streets and all of a sudden having this wonderful feeling, this is exactly where I belong. This fits so well. It integrates everything. Every part of me. So, so that was, that was the start and it's, it's Franciscan ever since.”
“I am by nature an activist. I think it's by nature. When I was in Chicago, I had a big poster of a mother duck with baby ducks on the wall and it said, ‘Do something, lead, follow, or get out of the way’. Activism is sort of natural for me.” (see visual at the end of these show notes)
“I married Jean-Francois and his scholarship continues to inform me … Clare, I've gotten to know more of Clare and the [early Franciscan] women. Where I live now, we don't have a specific Franciscan base. The two of us are Franciscans, and all of our close friends who are active with us in all of the endeavors … they know we're Franciscan and they're attuned to it. And several of us have also formed a faith sharing group called "the breaking of the bread". We're Franciscan without initials, but we are Franciscans.”
“I always speak of a Franciscan movement; I do not think that Francis or Clare acted alone. There was a movement, there were people and that is so very important. It's building up the relationships, … keeping the Franciscan history current. I go back to the readings and, again I have Jean-Francois, and every time we have ‘the breaking of the bread’, a meeting of our group, we have Franciscan texts; those people in the 13th century are dead, but they're still alive. … I've had years and years of reading about Francis and Clare and the men and women in that early movement. That stays with me, and I can always go back to those. I do go back to those pages, but as it is if people remember us, that means we’re still alive. So they're still alive, and so am I.”
With Veggie Wheels “we go to the people, not only will we give them vegetables and fruit from local farmers, but we will be able to relate. We will meet, we will have that exchange. As we saw in Francis's Testament, where he discovered that the leper was really his brother, his sister. You bring people from different socioeconomic status and you become friends; we get them involved in helping others.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis: https://ssj-tosf.org/
Vatican Council II: a five-minute video about the Council by Franciscan friar Casey Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyVq1hnxAqg .To hear other podcast guests references as well as to see show note links (click on ‘Read More’), type ‘Vatican’ into the search bar of this website, and several options will come up to explore.
Jean-Francois Godet-Calogeras, Margaret Carney, David Flood: bios with the Franciscan Institute: https://www.franciscanpublications.com/pages/franciscan-institute-scholars-authors
Saints Francis and Clare: https://osfphila.org/about/francis-and-clare-of-assisi/
The Testament, by Saint Francis: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-testament/140-fa-ed-1-page-124
Saint Francis meets the leper: see https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-meets-the-leper . See also the earliest biography of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano (1C 17): https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195
Haversack magazine issues: https://app.box.com/s/e0z1cpxq9br9n30ntucfcgn2zzpdipyz
Scripture related to the choice of “haversack” as the title:
--Luke 9:3 Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.” (cf. Mtt 10:10; Mk. 6:8; Lk 10:4)
--Luke 22:36 “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag…”
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande: http://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/
Frontline Episode based on Being Mortal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQhI3Jb7vMg ----
Enchanted Mountains Village: The Village to Village Network: https://www.vtvnetwork.org/ . The idea is to create a community of people 55+ to allow people to age well and happily in their homes through exchange of services, mutual support, and cultural and fun events. The Enchanted Mountains Village was officially launched on October 17, 2021, and is established as a non-profit organization: https://www.enchantedmountainsvillage.org/
Veggie Wheels https://www.cattfoundation.org/news/article/current/2020/08/26/100140/veggie-wheels-continues-service-through-pandemic-challenges
Video (on Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=661853231092130
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Join practitioner and scholar Jean-François Godet-Calogeras, interviewed by guest host Darleen Pryds, as he tells his story of growth and social engagement from village to village in Belgium and the United States, from happiness to greater happiness as he lives the passion and joy of Franciscan life.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/KRc0LZh5Zws
From Jean-François’s interview:
“Reading the writings of Francis that is full of quotes from the gospel, I started reading the gospel as I had never read it before. And found out that the gospel happened and was written in a historical context, and the same thing with the writings of Francis, expressed within an historical context, a way of life. And it very quickly became a passion. I could not imagine my life outside of that.”
“I was looking for a passion, and the passion came with the writings of Francis that took me back and deeper into the gospel, the good news of Jesus. … At that point, I became very happy. Much happier than I had been before. I always loved the students, but I was dissatisfied by the institutional context. And since then, and other experiences, I'm not a very institutional guy. I'm more of an artist or of the present. I'm an historian and I love history, but it's to help me understand and live the present. Not to be with all stones.”
“I'm not doing it on purpose, but I have been more than once labeled rebel. And it's just because I see things that for me make sense, but then I get in trouble. During that time, I discovered the writings of Clare of Assisi. … Clare was not a nun in enclosure. Clare was a sister with the brothers. And it was basically the same way of life. The man on the road in movement, the women in a place that they called monastery. Culturally, it was just as the world was moving. Women were not normally traveling and mingling with people, but that doesn't mean that they were locked in, in prison. So, I realized that story of First and Second Order, like first and second class, doesn't really fit.”
“I realized again that the Third Order Regular, it was not a third class. And then it became very clear to me that there was one movement. One spiritual family with Francis and Clare, the brother and the sister at the root of that, inspired by the gospel of Jesus. And that movement developed in a very inclusive way to the beginning, but then of course with some complicities and good intention, it had to be organized. It had to be canonically organized.”
“It became clear that I had to leave [the Friars], and I did. … It felt horrible. It felt terrible. It felt that after 18 years or so I was losing my life. I wasn't me anymore. But I faced that. Friends were very, again, very supportive, very instrumental and some, Margaret Carney and others, when traveling to Europe would stop and visit me in my little house in the village, in Belgium. During the time that I was five years in my village, one friend told me that her mother had heard that I was not a Franciscan anymore. And she responded to her mother that no, he's not in the Order of Friars Minor anymore, but he is a Franciscan. That has been a moment of grace to me to realize that, yes, my Franciscan soul was not attached to any institution, and I was grateful for what I had received in the institution. And it's a lot that is part of myself, but I realized I am Franciscan, and I can explain what it means to me. It's a way of life and I will continue.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi: https://osfphila.org/about/francis-and-clare-of-assisi/
The Wolf of Gubbio: read at Read in The Deeds of Blessed Francis & His Companions XXIII, FA:ED, vol. 3, pp. 482-485 at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-deeds-of-blessed-francis-and-his-companions-1328-1337/2386-fa-ed-3-page-485.
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2467-fa-ed-3-page-566
Desbonnets and Sabatier: The French Friar minor Théophile Desbonnets was the first one to publish the early Franciscan documents in one volume: Saint François d’Assise: Documents (Paris: Éditions franciscaines, 1968). Paul Sabatier is the father of the modern Franciscan studies. His masterpiece is his Vie de saint François d’Assise (Paris: Librairie Fischbacher, 1894).
A Short List of Publications by Jean-François:
François d’Assise: Écrits, Collection “Sources chrétiennes” 285 (Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1981) [Introduction, Latin text, French translation and notes]. Reprinted in 1997 and 2003. Claire d’Assise: Écrits, Collection “Sources chrétiennes” 325 (Paris: Éditions du Cerf, 1985) [Introduction, Critical edition of Latin text, French translation and notes]. Reprinted in 1997 and 2003. Clare of Assisi: A Woman’s Life (Chicago: Haversack, 1991). “Evangelical Radicalism in the Writings of Francis and Clare,” in “Vita Evangelica.” Essays in Honor of Margaret Carney, OSF [Franciscan Studies 64 (2006)], 103-121.Écrits de François d’Assise, French translation with introduction and notes, in François d’Assise: Écrits, Vies et Témoignages (Paris: Éditions du Cerf – Éditions franciscaines, 2010).
Clare’s Blessing, in Studies in Early Franciscan Sources, Vol. 3 (St. Bonaventure: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2011), 135-147. The Autographs of Brother Francis of Assisi, in Studies in Early Franciscan Sources, Vol. 1 (St. Bonaventure: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2011), 51-99. The Salutations of Brother Francis of Assisi, in Studies in Early Franciscan Sources, Vol. 1 (St. Bonaventure: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2011), 301-327. Clare of Assisi, A Woman’s Life: Symbols of the Feminine in Her Writings, New Updated Edition (Phoenix: Tau Publishing, 2013).Reference to Gibecq cheese: From 1978 to 1980 Jean-François worked with Jean Frison, a farmer in Gibecq (Western Wallonia) who was starting Agrisain, a cooperative of farmers.
https://www.lavenir.net/regions/wallonie-picarde/ath/2021/09/08/jean-frison-gibecq-fondateur-de-coprosain-est-decede-QET6ABL2BFBX3DKUQRIZMKUSE4/
The International Project on the new Rule for the Third Order Regular, approved in 1982; for more information see History of the TOR Rule: A Source Book (St. Bonaventure: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2008)
As a Franciscan Jean-François lived in many places! Among the places mentioned in this episode are Louvain and its university; the General Curia (headquarters) of the Order of Friars Minor in Rome; five months in solitude in Oostduinkerke; five years in a small village, Mont, near Namur, and currently in Allegany, NY https://www.allegany.org/
Resources:
Haversack: A Franciscan review published from 1977 to 1999; available at: https://app.box.com/s/e0z1cpxq9br9n30ntucfcgn2zzpdipyz
Franciscan Institute: The Franciscan Institute on the campus of Saint Bonaventure University
Veggie Wheels: https://www.cattfoundation.org/news/article/current/2020/08/26/100140/veggie-wheels-continues-service-through-pandemic-challenges
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Join Franciscan Sister Carmen Barsody as she shares her learnings from life in a Nicaraguan barrio and in the Tenderloin of San Francisco. In conversation with guest host Darleen Pryds, Carmen invites us from fear into freedom to do what we feel called to do in the world, that all may have life and have it to the full.
For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/zCxCvtnPtUo
From Sister Carmen’s interview:
“When I moved to Nicaragua I came to work in an ecumenical setting, which was even more expansive and more exciting. It was our community's choice just to move into a Barrio and live amongst the people, with the people, and allow our life to evolve out of that. Rather than to move into a community with an idea of we were going to bring something to them. And I was very enriched by living in Nicaragua and also even more enlightened. Learned a lot more because Nicaragua had had much more direct intervention by the United States and the Contra war had just finished. I was in a country that, at the time that we arrived, more than 50% of the people were under the age of 15, because so many had been killed in the war. And so much of our work there was just bringing people together again as brothers and sisters.”
“We worked a lot with women who were struggling to find their own independence, their own freedom to not be enslaved by their domestic partners. We worked on many realms, but most of the day to day is very much like what I am here with Faithful Fools, much of the day gets directed by who might arrive at the door or what need arises and needs a response, as well as working with some more formal meetings and intentional conversations and classes and things like that.”
In San Francisco, California: “We wanted to create a kind of container, an invitation, for people to walk and work together. One of the first opening acts we call it, was our street retreats. We created a day long retreat, in which people come into the community not to volunteer, not to have a tour, but to come into the community of the Tenderloin with the spirit of a retreat, a day of reflection. The mantra that we often use is "what holds me separate, what keeps me separated, as I walk the streets, what connects me?” It's really a sense of bringing ourselves into relationship with a place, with people, that we are encouraged to stay away from, that we're encouraged to not come into the Tenderloin. It's that part of the city you're not supposed to come into. But I think also in founding the Fools that we call it a place of practice. People come from many walks of life, many faith commitments or social values that they're wanting to practice. So this really becomes a place to say, what does it look like in direct relationship with people, what does it look like to live it out.”
“One of the things that we know as human beings is some of what gets projected onto communities like the Tenderloin of substance abuse issues or violence or abandonment or whatever is not exclusive to communities like the Tenderloin. They are something that many, many people know. And I think for me, I'm actually, it's easier to work in a community where there's an honesty about that rather than in communities where it's hidden or there's a silence, or we don't talk about it.”
“Lewis Hyde in his book, “Trickster Makes This World”, speaks of how a fool or a trickster does not change in different environments. You know, like sometimes you go amongst the wealthier and all of a sudden you've got this kind of persona that is different than if I'm on the streets. And I think a strong interior sense of self brings forth a constancy, an integrity of being, that doesn't change or doesn't place greater value on one person than another. … To me, that's who (Saint) Francis was. Francis was a fool. Francis really, no matter whether he was speaking to the Bishop or speaking to the people on the streets or in the community or from house to house, was steady in his being and how he wanted to be, even in its imperfection.”
“It's a hard thing for some people when they come to Faithful Fools. I remember one person saying I paid a lot of money to have this title behind my name, because here I'm just Carmen and it's who I just wanna be is Carmen. And even if people come with their gifts or their talents or their skills, we are all just fools. And that takes a while for people to realize. I remember for myself just a visual I would do very consciously, and still do, is if I'm in conversation with somebody, I just do a self-check to see whether I really have myself at the same level. And if I realize I've got a little bit more air than I want to have, I image myself on one of these barber stools and just kinda turning myself down energetically till I feel like, okay, now I'm really here. Now I'm really with this person in the place that I wanna be. And I feel like that's how Francis, where Francis was most comfortable.”
“Even if you feel fear, be fearless and feel free to do what you feel called to do in the world.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Faithful Fools Street Ministry: see: https://www.faithfulfools.org/our-history
and https://www.faithfulfools.org/resources
Street Retreats: https://www.faithfulfools.org/about-street-retreats
Books:
St. Francis and the Foolishness of God by, Marie Dennis and Joseph Nangle
Trickster Makes This World, by Lewis Hyde
Foolish Wisdom: Stories, Activities, and Reflections, by Ken Feit, I.F. Joseph F. Martin (Editor): https://www.google.com/books/edition/Foolish_Wisdom/iqe3PQAACAAJ?hl=en
Francis of Assisi: “We must never desire to be above others, but, instead, we must be servants and subject to every human creature for God’s sake.” (verse 47; see also: 1 Peter 2:13) https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/later-admonition-and-exhortation/63-fa-ed-1-page-48
Scripture reference: That all people may have life, and have it to the full (cf. John 10:10)
Sisters Carmen Barsody and Michelle L’Allier with Heidi Mesa, 1997
Sister Carmen and Kay Jorgensen, with local companions
Carmen and Mercedes
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Join Jenny Atlee as she opens us to the world of accompaniment amid violence in Nicaragua, Honduras and beyond. Jenny’s experiences and learnings invite us into the world of personal and collective trauma, followed by stories that highlight pathways to healing and peace, especially through equine therapy.
From Jenny’s interview:
“Trauma is exposure to overwhelming events when you cannot keep yourself safe. What your whole body is operating out of is an automatic nervous system response, which is to fight, to flee to collapse, to play dead. Those are survival responses in overwhelming situations; it can take many forms. It can be physical abuse, emotional abuse, an accident natural disaster; it can be witnessing trauma or abuse or violence. And so as individuals, we experience trauma.”
“Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart, a Native American woman gave us the definition for historic trauma, which is the deliberate perpetration of violence and harm against a people, over time and across generations. An example of that would be the genocide that happened against indigenous people in this country or slavery in this country. These are historic traumas.”
“Then there's collective trauma where a group of people experience an overwhelming traumatic event. So Uvalde in Texas, Buffalo, New York, those communities are right now in the full blown collective trauma. That will be working itself out as we move forward.
Then there's intergenerational trauma, which is how trauma can get past individual or collective or historic, and can get passed down through the generations. Thomas Hugo has been a great leader in this, has done a lot of work in Germany. Documenting how the Holocaust, that huge historic and collective trauma, is intergenerational and that it tends to get more complex and compounded as it moves to the generations, if it is not attended to and resolved.”
“The word trauma is so valuable because it shifts the key question of trauma from what's the matter with us and what's wrong with us, to what happened to us? And that's a pivotal shift when we're looking through a trauma lens. What happened to us? Why do we have nightmares? Why are we hypervigilant? Why do we have no energy? Why are we exhausted and burnt out and can't ever recover? What happened to us can sometimes help us find answers and not pathologize people who've been traumatized. A lot of this also has to do with systemic injustice and systemic violence that perpetrates collective and historic trauma.”
“I think they [horses] are a mystery, these huge, enormous animals. You know, 1500 pounds. When they choose to connect with you and come and place their enormous head right on your heart and tears come forward and memories come out that you didn't even know you had, there is mystery about that. How did they know to touch that? And we always say, it's so potent and efficient, their healing. They go right to what it is that most needs attention that often we're trying to protect or push aside or no, not now, or not that or tuck it behind us. We'll talk about this for that. And they just go right through and say, how about this one? How about we just talk about this one? And it remains a mystery how they do that. They are prey animals and human beings are predators. And as prey animals, they know things about how to be together and stay safe together that we can learn a lot about as human beings. … They need to stay safe in their social unit, with very sophisticated systems of communication and collaboration. … They can operate as they are meant to operate as a herd. We have so much to learn from them about a peaceful way of communicating and being with each other. We see that lion lamb unity when we partner with horses.”
“We don't know all of what the horses are doing. We know that they're grounding, that they're regulating heartbeat, regulating breath rate. Their large nervous systems are training, our nervous systems into a wave that is more regulated and more grounded and more healed so that we can remember what that feels like. In trauma we get stuck in our flight-fight and we forget what it feels like to feel: oh, there's peace here too. They take us back there so we can remember it and then we can access it again. Some of what trauma does is it takes that away. We don't even know how to get back to it and they give us that back in our bodies.”
“In terms of my essential nature, where I am is,really a contemplation intuition story. This is where I am, this is where I'm most at home. And yet my path and my work in the world has been one of action and analysis, where I needed to have facts and figures, and I needed to be able to document things in such a way that they would stand up under the utmost scrutiny. I talk about it as two wings of a bird; we need both wings to be strong in order to fly and to have that balance. One is more my nature, and one I have to work to develop more than other; but I have really needed to rely on both. Both have their place in my growth and integration of experience and making meaning and articulating my experience so that it can transform and evolve. That's how I see it, as two wings of a bird and they partner together in a very strong way.”
“Seeing the world through a trauma informed lens can help us to start to tend to this trauma field that we're living in. No one is immune from it; it impacts everybody. And create safe spaces where we can recover a felt sense of peace and safety and power that we can trust and heal this culture. I think that Franciscan spirituality, indigenous spirituality, trauma informed lens, and all the teachers and mentors who are resourcing, provide some links for developing this work. And for me, ultimately the horses. This is what will help us heal our culture so that we have a chance of finding peace. Horses, for right now, are leading the way, and we'll continue to struggle to find the words to communicate their mystery.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Sanctuary Movement of the 1980’s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_movement . This was an ecumenical movement inspired in part by Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad: https://www.nps.gov/articles/harriet-tubman-and-the-underground-railroad.htm
Witness for Peace: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_for_Peace . Who were the Contra? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contras
Judith Herman’s book Trauma and Recovery: political violence impact on individual and collective trauma; see https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Recovery-Aftermath-Violence-Political/dp/0465061710/
Red Thread, Jenny’s book on resilience and trauma, tells stories of the people she accompanied in the midst of political violence in Nicaragua: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Thread-Spiritual-Journal-Accompaniment/dp/0918346258
Honduran military coup, June 2009: https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Recovery-Aftermath-Violence-Political/dp/0465061710/ .
Honduras Accompaniment Project: accompanies the nonviolent social movement in Honduras https://friendshipamericas.org/programs/honduras-accompaniment-project/
Historical Trauma, work by Dr Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart: https://blog.nativehope.org/understanding-historical-trauma-and-native-americans#:
Intergenerational Trauma, work by Thomas Hugo: https://www.amazon.com/Intergenerational-Trauma-Ghosts-Times-Past/dp/152386558X
Equine Therapy model of Arenas for Change (ARCH): https://arenasforchange.com/ - partnering with horses to help heal the violence in our culture so we can all have more peace. Another model of is called Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA); see https://www.eagala.org/index
Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio: Read in The Deeds of Blessed Francis & His Companions XXIII, FA:ED, vol. 3, pp. 482-485 at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-deeds-of-blessed-francis-and-his-companions-1328-1337/2386-fa-ed-3-page-485. A contemporary exploration of this story in light of care of creation: Befriending the Wolf: Blessing all God’s Creation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNHbgnAdaVk
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Join MJ and Jerry as they share stories and learnings about teaching skills and tools to heal our hearts, connect within and with others, and turn from violence to wellness and peacemaking.
From MJ and Jerry’s interview:
“My mom was an activist and took me to Dr. King's marches and movements. But my dad said, what do you two want? And I said, Dad, you know, we want peace. And he said, how are you going to make it happen? When he said that, I said, Dad, you're right. If we want peace, we have to teach peace.”
“One little boy said, MJ, you're not going to live very long. And I said, why? And he said, well, you don't like guns. And there's a lot of bad people out there. And right away, I thought, wow, this is the stirrings. We need to equip people with the tools, the instruments, so to speak. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. I asked myself this question okay, how am I going to teach peace? What's it going to be? And Jerry was such a supporter of let's go for it together. Let's be like Dr. King said, it takes more creativity to make peace than war.”
“We started peace camp… Kids are coming home with positive language. They're saying let's be a peacemaker, not a peace breaker; they’re loving the peace train…there is no violence; it’s run on love. Then we got into tools for peace and not weapons of war.”
“We would go and hang out and Jerry helped start a garden. They were having cookouts. We would just join. So it wasn't like we were bringing, but they also taught me. Some of the youth would say, MJ, if you take away our guns or our weapons you need to give us, replace them with something. And that really struck me. So, I have felt empowered that if we're gonna interrupt violence, we have to replace them with tools … tell them how to use it. Because of the fear, and especially now in this culture, when violence has been so on the uptick, we have pivoted to more focusing on social, emotional wellness. Because we know that the violence is coming out of lost connections and feeling that I don't count or I've lost my heart, my root, my centeredness.”
“We need to own that if we want peace, we have to work for it, give it space, give it a spotlight so that it will elevate the courage. At peace camp, the kids of all ages feel safety. They'll say, oh, I like it here. And I say why? And they say, because people are nice and you're like, well, shouldn't that be the way of the world? But that's not what we're all experiencing. So I don't like the phrase now anti-bullying or, you know, banners saying compassion, mindfulness, all those code words, because I feel like we have to really own that it takes focus and work.”
“The circle was healing because it's a listening time, trying to share not only our struggles, but our good times and also our dreams…. When Black Lives Matter broke out during the pandemic, I kept saying, if we keep shouting at each other and becoming more and more divided, when we come together how can we listen and share? So we started these circles and providing a safe place for people to become self-aware, but also aware of what another person is going through or what is causing them to think a certain way.”
“The littleness in Little Friends For Peace, is definitely that "littleness" of St. Francis. Your lifestyle and your vision, your approach to people, how it disarms violence in people's hearts and in fact their whole sense of walking lightly on the face of our Mother Earth…. It's our little way of trying to make a little difference in a big world, but it's the how to find joy in the little things and the smile and the kind word and the listening that will interrupt violence…. We are going to have to keep disarming our own heart and finding ways to build those connections.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Church of the Saviour, Washington DC: a network of independent, ecumenical Christian faith communities and ministries that have grown out of the original COS community which was founded in the 1940’s. See https://inwardoutward.org/
Little Friends For Peace: their mission is to counter violence and contribute to a worldwide culture of peace by sharing skills to prevent, resolve, and transform conflict with individuals, families, teams, and communities. Information about their book and tool cards, about how to bring the Peace Camp to your church or school, about participating in a circle or training, or about their International Programs is on the website: http://www.lffp.org/ . See also Saint Francis International School: http://www.lffp.org/saint-francis-international-school-peace-camp.html
Peace House Community: founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondolet; this is where MJ and Jerry met some Franciscan Sisters: https://peacehousecommunity.org/
Pax Christi: a Catholic peace movement with 120 member organizations worldwide that promotes peace, respect of human rights, justice & reconciliation throughout the world.
Grounded in the belief that peace is possible and that vicious cycles of violence and injustice can be broken, Pax Christi International addresses the root causes and destructive consequences of violent conflict and war. See: https://paxchristi.net/
The Quixote Center: a multi-issue social justice organization founded in 1976, and who work alongside partner organizations to bring about lasting systemic change in the Americas, stand in solidarity and friendship with those who seek to improve the lives of the very poor, and provide guidance, technical assistance, and funding to support their work and allow their movements and programs to mature and take hold… See: https://www.quixote.org/
Sadakos Cranes for Peace: https://www.birdsofpeace.org/sadako-and-1000-paper-cranes
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Join Brent Anderson as he tells stories from his experiences in the Enchanted Mountains of the Alleghany River Valley, in rural Uganda, and in the challenges of health care in Sacramento. Brent opens up learnings gleaned from work with trauma, poverty, healing divisions, and equipping people with skills do dialogue across polarities, thus deepening relationships and strengthening communal resilience.
From Brent’s interview:
“As a chaplain…. I learned so much more about the movement of Spirit in and through the lives of my patients that were experiencing it in such a practical way. You know, from the powerful ways the Spirit moves in our vulnerability and our pain, and also what really is mattering to people; many graced moments of "the ordinary". But I was also present to the utterly extraordinary. I got to hear over a hundred first-hand near-death experiences. As people would recount these vivid encounters when they reached kind of that brink of death and then have this experience of this luminous divine healing light, or encountering past family members. … The ministry was like an extreme sport. It was the extremes of trauma and the extremes of grace. Sometimes in the exact same encounter.”
“The area of town where our clinic and hospital are is an area where there's a lot of poverty where people have significant social challenges, higher rates of traumatic upbringings, and that also does include human trafficking. This clinic team, feeling the horror of the reality of human trafficking, wondered if they could do something more about it. And so fast forward … to just two years later, this team had successfully established the nation's very first medical home for human trafficking survivors; it's a key part now of a multi-agency process that wraps survivors with the kind of multiple layers of support. They found their passion in service and went on to literally write the book in trauma informed care for survivors of human trafficking. … Our physicians, our nurses, our medical assistants all coalesced around this ministry. And this medical home model for survivors of human trafficking is now being replicated nationwide.”
“For me, the most important part of spiritual direction is Franciscan presence. It's so core to the work. The inner quiet and the prevalent attention creates spaciousness to welcome the soul of the other. I think of it as Franciscan hospitality, but at the level of soul. … I think that's the power of Franciscan presence in spiritual direction that helps people be open to the healing and the integrated work of the Spirit.”
“I think the Franciscan values of active peacemaking and tending in an integral ecology contains the wisdom that our world needs right now to bridge the divides that we have today. I'm stunned that all of our children go through an education system where they learn about science and history and math and a foreign language, but they never learn the language of the heart and how to deeply listen to the soul of another human being. And while trained chaplains and spiritual directors do this with Franciscan presence on a professional level, I think we’d live in such a more connected and loving place if even a critical mass of us had some training in how to hold this kind of space for each other.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
St. Bonaventure University: https://www.sbu.edu/ and Mount Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Community: https://mountainonline.org/
Franciscan School of Theology (FST): https://www.fst.edu/ ; FST was previously in Berkeley, part of the Graduate Theological Union: https://www.gtu.edu/schools-and-centers#schools
Alleghany River and the Enchanted Mountains: https://enchantedmountains.com/page/about ; for some comic relief in this substantial conversation, rope swing over a river: https://datagenetics.com/blog/september42014/index.html
Semester at Sea: https://www.semesteratsea.org/
Spiritual Exercises, Jesuit 30-day retreat: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/09/jesuit-101-the-spiritual-exercises-the-heart-of-the-jesuits/
Greccio, the story of the first live nativity, initiated by Saint Francis, in Greccio Italy, 1 Celano 30:84-87: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/695-fa-ed-1-page-254
“If you want peace, work for justice” – a quote by Pope Paul VI. An introductory article that links to the original text and further resources: https://www.catholicjournal.us/2011/08/04/if-you-want-peace-work-for-justice/
Millennium Villages: https://www.millenniumpromise.org/millenniumvillages
World Health Organization Global Fund: an article re: HIV and health systems https://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2021-who-and-global-fund-sign-cooperation-agreement-to-scale-up-hiv-tb-and-malaria-interventions-and-strengthen-health-systems
Child mortality from easily preventable disease: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/children-reducing-mortality
History of Leprosy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_leprosy ; an exploration of Saint Francis’ doing penance, showing mercy with lepers: https://friarmusings.com/2012/11/09/francis-of-assisi-a-period-of-crisis-embracing-the-leper/
Near-Death Experiences: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-death_experience
CommonSpirit Health (formerly Dignity Health) Human Trafficking, trauma response, training resources:
https://commonspiritpophealth.org/programs-tools/violence-human-trafficking/
Wendy Barnes: https://www.dignityhealth.org/hello-humankindness/human-trafficking/survivor-led-and-survivor-informed and her book: “And Life Continues: Sex Trafficking and My Journey to Freedom”: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Continues-Trafficking-Journey-Freedom/dp/1502304171
Healing Divisions, founded by Brent Anderson: https://healingdivisions.org/ ;
"Conflict to Connection: Science & Spirituality for Engaging Across Divides" Zoom retreat:
https://healingdivisions.org/conflict-to-connection
Healing Divisions Spiritual Direction Ministry: https://healingdivisions.org/spiritual-direction ,
Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/ ; spiritual directors accompany individuals or groups in deepening their spiritual lives and their relationship with God. See interview with Teresa Blythe: https://youtu.be/b6l7UN9wxEg; for further exploration, listen to Sister Michelle at: https://40minutesoffaith.com/podcast/spiritualdirection
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Join Brother Paolo Nicosia as he masterfully tells stories of healing and reconciliation woven together with offering practical principles and skills to strengthen our own abilities to be peacebuilders and reconcilers today.
From Brother Paolo’s interview:
A summary of Principles and Skills of Mediation and Peace Building:
--A pluralistic vision of the community, seeking unity among diversity.
--An inclusive and compassionate attitude, because the tendency often, especially nowadays is being exclusive, I'm part of this group against another group; either you are in or you're out.
--A pacific and non-violent approach. … This is the way to transform conflicts.
--At the broader level, a commitment for social justice, being charitable to others, but also on a level that can be justice for all, not just for some that want a privileged life.
--Also healing wounds and memories, because every time we have some misunderstanding or some real conflicts, there are wounds; the bad memories can be healed, talking, sharing and understanding each other, like in the restorative justice process, very famous in South Africa.
--From a spiritual point of view, … God is God, we are not. This gives a sort of relaxation, like the way of saying in Italian that I try to translate, God exists, you are not God, so relax.
--Finally, in the Atonement charism of reconciliation with God, other human beings and the self is expressed especially in two ways, two ministries. One is social and the other is ecumenical. So, ecumenically, through a dialogue seeking unity among diversity; the other, social ministry, especially for addictions.
“Being always oriented to problem solving, and if it is not possible to solve problems, accepting reality, like Francis with the Sultan. … Not to be fearful of leaving with extreme differences. Again, Francis was doing this all the time with all kinds of different people, and we can do nowadays, basing our relationship on trust, healing the past, if the case happened that this trust was threatened or misunderstood in some ways. We use non-violent communication, listening a lot and talking in a very clear and understandable way to others. These are very simple, but very useful way of living the Franciscan spirituality in our daily lives.”
“This approach can be applied for every kind of conflict, either grassroots or international conflicts. The wisdom of Franciscan agents of reconciliation, it could be Christian, or it could be everybody, is that everybody can be one; in every life is a facilitator for the transformation and integration of inner and outer conflicts to reconcile with the self, the others and God. … If we follow Jesus Christ or a peace approach, first of all, be inclusive. … The vision of accomplishment of peace can be a source of hope, and a realization of this being meant to be one. That is a bit of our name: At-one-ment, but it's also the gospel of John.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Assisi, Graymoor: https://www.atonementfriars.org/our-mission-history/ … We believe in…transforming conflict by being instruments of justice and peace, honoring and embracing the dignity of all people, living “minimum for self, maximum for God,” being stewards of God’s Creation and, ministering to those in need of physical and spiritual healing. We partner with those who share our values.
We exist as a Catholic religious community to invite the world to join us in the quest for healing and reconciliation. We do this by living, embracing and fostering the Franciscan spirit of At-One-Ment which includes: the unity of all; and the healing of the broken and those who have lost their way. We joy in God.
Two of the friars’ key ministries:
St. Christopher’s Inn: See https://www.atonementfriars.org/healing-ministries/#stchristophersinn and
Ecumenical Ministries and Interfaith Dialogue: https://www.atonementfriars.org/ecumenical-interfaith-dialogue/
Stories
Francis and the Sultan al-Kamil, 1219 Crusades: A contemporary telling of the story: https://cac.org/francis-and-the-sultan-2019-10-10/ . An original source: The Life of Saint Francis XX:57, by Thomas of Celano at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/672-fa-ed-1-page-231#ges:searchword%3Dsultan%26searchphrase%3Dall%26page%3D1
Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio: A contemporary reflection on this story: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-and-the-taming-of-the-wolf . An original source: The Life of Saint Francis XX:57, by Thomas of Celano at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/672-fa-ed-1-page-231#ges:searchword%3Dsultan%26searchphrase%3Dall%26page%3D1
What are ‘The Troubles’, referenced in the Irish Cultural Center story? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubles
What is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Negotiation and Mediation? https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/alternative_dispute_resolution . See also the Harvard Negotiation Project: https://www.pon.harvard.edu/about/our-mission/
Tools/Resources in English by Brother Paolo:
Faith-based Peacebuilding: Insights from the Three Main Monotheisms – you can download it here: https://www.athensjournals.gr/social/2017-4-1-1-Nicosia.pdf and
Ecumenical Tools for Christian Based Reconciliation – if you would like a copy of this article, please email your request to [email protected] including the episode number and the name of this article.
Artisans of Peace, Pope Francis: see https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/pope-become-artisans-peace-your-daily-lives
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Join Stephanie Luna as she generously shares her journey of transformation through generational trauma to freedom, joy and a life of service.
From Luna’s interview:
“I am third generation Mexican American. My grandparents are the ones who immigrated to the United States. My parents assimilated to the American culture really fast. They were born and raised in Los Angeles where I also was born and raised. So there was a lot of having to learn the American culture, don't talk Spanish because we would get, or they would get made fun of.”
“My only coping that I felt was necessary was to just get up and leave. So I had the opportunity to go to college—I'm the first one in my family to go to college, which is a huge deal in my family. It's big. It was a lot of... a lot of pressure to myself, but I wasn't really understanding where the pressure was coming from. And I just felt like I had to get away. … I only knew Southern California and I said, I want to go away, but not too far. So that's when I ended up in the Bay Area.”
“There are moments where I sit back and I just think, wow, I did that not only for me, but I did that for my family. There was an ethnic studies class that I took while in college; we talked about generational wealth and generational trauma. And just how in this generational trauma, we're constantly passing on that trauma from person to person, generation to generation. And the same can be said for wealth.”
“We were at our campus ministry center and [the campus minister] noticed that I was trying to pull away. She was asking me what was going on, what was causing me so much turmoil. And so I shared with her …. And her response was you need to tell that to the community. I did not understand that. I was like, what are you talking about? You're crazy. I don't need to share this sadness with anyone. And so she shared with me that if I were to tell the community, it would give them the opportunity to accompany me in my sadness. Now I am a 19-year-old college student, not understanding any of the words that she's saying, but I heard in that moment that I need to share.”
“So I share with them and they welcome me back to the community. Talk about the prodigal son story. I left the community, and I came back and I felt a belonging. I felt wanted, needed. And in that sharing, I didn't know it until years later, but other people started sharing their traumas and their losses. From my vulnerability, I was able to help others see their vulnerability. So there was this mutual sharing of that.”
“I watched the movie Brother Son, Sister Moon about St. Francis of Assisi, in the scene where St. Francis takes his clothes off and he's in the middle of the Piazza. He's telling his father, these are not mine, these are just earthly possessions. It was the moment where he gave up his name. He gave up his father's name and he said, this is not my name. This is not who I am. I am going to go live a life to go in search of who I am. And I just remember sitting back and I'm like crying my eyes out. And I'm just like, okay, God, I hear you. That's when I ended up choosing the Franciscan Community Volunteers, because of that moment of giving yourself, giving of yourself, so that you can reconnect with yourself, with your source, that I felt drawn to. ... Just the irony of giving yourself away to reconnect with yourself, your true self. …. So, I'm trying my best to live my life, to reflect that love that God has for me and for others.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Catholic Club - CSU East Bay Catholic Club: https://allsaintshayward.org/csu-east-bay-catholic-club-campus-ministry is a collaboration of Cal State East Bay with All Saints Catholic Church Campus Ministry in Hayward, CA.
Eunice Park, Campus Minister: see Episode 16 interview entitled “Gratuitous Love: transforming anxiety to freedom”: https://engagingfranciscanwisdom.org/gratuitous-love-transforming-anxiety-to-freedom-episode-16
Prodigal Son story, Luke 15:11-32: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15 is also known as the Parable of the Lost Son.
Catholic Volunteer Network: a resource for finding short and long-term volunteer opportunities, see https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/ . Franciscan Community Volunteers, sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN, closed during Covid. Here is a reference: https://www.fslf.org/pages/franciscan-community-volunteers
“Brother Sun, Sister Moon”: 1972 movie directed by Rafael Zeffirelli; for further information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Sun,_Sister_Moon . This movie touches the heart of Francis’ journey of conversion, turning to God and to neighbor, over the course of his life, albeit in a somewhat romanticized, not entirely historically accurate way.
Saint Francis renounces his earthly father, name and possessions: see St Bonaventure’s Major Legend 2:4 - https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-founder/the-legends-and-sermons-about-saint-francis-by-bonaventure-of-bagnoregio/the-major-legend-of-saint-francis/the-life-of-blessed-francis/1627-fa-ed-2-page-538
Maryknoll, a mission movement: https://www.maryknoll.org/ . Luna is part of the Young Adult Empowerment team https://www.maryknoll.us/home/young-adult-empowerment-community/yae-team-biographies
Saint Francis meets the leper: see https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-meets-the-leper . See also the earliest biography of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano (1C 17) https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195
Haecceitas: a Franciscan term coined by John Duns Scotus re: the unique value, dignity, ‘thisness’, of every person and everything; two references: https://cac.org/irreplaceable-thisness-2018-03-18/ , and https://www.ssfamericas.org/post/a-hagiography-of-blessed-john-duns-scotus
Richard Rohr, true and false self: two of many references to this key spiritual concept: https://cac.org/letting-go-of-the-false-self-2022-03-02/ and https://cac.org/trusting-our-essential-self-2022-02-27/
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Join guest host Carolyn Townes in an interview with Father Kevin Queally as he explores the world through stories and reflections on living open to change, and choosing to grow in being people of mercy, justice and peace.
From Father Kevin’s interview:
“The point of the story is that she changed her mind. She thought one thing, and now she thinks another. Metanoia also has the implication of going in one direction and turning around and going in another, especially towards the Lord. Then I said to the person in the pew, when's the last time you or I changed our minds? … Isn’t that where we're supposed to be doing, listening, learning, reading scriptures, hearing the church's teaching and changing our lives in continual conversion? “
“As we as we die with the Lord, we shall rise with the Lord. And all of us have a cross to bear and all of us have some kind of penance in our lives, not a penance imposed. I remember a friar good friend of mine who came from a very poor background and he said, you know, I don't need to go looking for penances. He would say, I have a lot of penances in my everyday life. And that in a way is very true for all of us.”
“For me, it also spills over into the traditional outreach of the Third Order people. … They're running soup kitchens or helping out at soup kitchens. Or they're collecting food for the hungry or they're working to protect life or they're, there are a lot who do prison ministry. The work of mercy is, you know, visiting those in prison. I was in prison, and you came to visit me. And how inspiring it is that ... they're so in touch with the charism that they do these things without being prompted or saying, this is what you must do, because this is in our tradition. They just do it without even anyone telling them that this is in our tradition, and you must do this. We feel drawn to it automatically, with me anyway.”
“Franciscans International developed in the 1980s. And I was active on the justice and peace scene in the eighties working for the Franciscan friars Conference, now defunct. I was in Washington, DC, and the idea that we would have a presence at the United Nations as a nongovernmental organization cropped up from several places around the world. … We applied to the UN, they welcomed us with open arms. … To be recognized officially as a nongovernmental organization, you had to choose three areas of the UN charter which your group would promote. And so, three areas we chose from the UN charter that Franciscans would promote were peacemaking, care for creation and concern for the poor. … We approach those three areas … with the focus of human rights.”
“I know some folks think this justice and peace stuff is all left-wing drivel, but we have to listen to the gospel. We have to listen to Matthew 25, I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was in prison and you came to visit me, and those kinds of things. And as well the Beatitudes, blessed are the peacemakers and so forth. We have to listen to those things and internalize them as we can. And sometimes they call you and me and all of us to an internal conversion. … That's the bottom line with St. Francis, and that's why he wanted to be a penitent, to live the gospel more faithfully, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular, Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: https://franciscanstor.org/ , the community to which Father Kevin belongs.
Vatican II: a five-minute video about the Council by Franciscan friar Casey Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyVq1hnxAqg. To hear other podcast guests references as well as to see show note links (click on ‘Read More’), type ‘Vatican’ into the search bar of this website, and several options will come up to explore.
Third Order Secular Franciscans: you can listen to our guest host, Carolyn Townes, reflections on being a Secular Franciscan, including links to further information at https://engagingfranciscanwisdom.org/walking-the-path-of-grief-and-loss-to-joy-as-a-lay-franciscan-episode-27.
Father Raniero Cantella Mesa: see http://www.cantalamessa.org/?lang=en . He is a Capuchin Franciscan priest and papal homilist addresses doing penance as being converted, practicing metanoia (Greek) and penitencia (Latin)
What is a Spiritual Assistant for Secular Franciscan Fraternities: see https://queenofpeaceregion.org/spiritual-assistance-1 and https://www.sfo.franciscans.org.au/sfo27/2spasst.htm
Franciscans International: see https://franciscansinternational.org/home/
NGO (non-governmental organizations): at the United Nations, see https://www.un.org/press/en/non-governmental-organizations
Amnesty International: work with human rights around the world; see https://www.amnesty.org/en/
Catholic Relief Services: putting faith into action to help those who are most poor to create lasting change; see https://www.crs.org/
Saint Francis met with Sultan al-Kamik: The Life of Saint Francis XX:57, by Thomas of Celano. FA:ED, vol. 1, p. 231. at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/672-fa-ed-1-page-231#ges:searchword%3Dsultan%26searchphrase%3Dall%26page%3D1. See also Episode 9 show notes.
Matthew 25:31-46: see https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25
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Join Sister Janice Wiechman as she shares wisdom learned from her life of prayer, relationships and service across cultures and generations.
From Sister Janice’s interview:
“Conversion is one of those pillar values of our Third Order that has touched me a lot. It means to me to be always open to see things differently, to see things through God's eyes maybe, through scripture. Or see things through another person's eyes, one of my brothers or sisters or neighbors, and to be open to that and to be willing to make a change in my life if that's what's called for. And it means to me to be regularly reflecting on my life to see where I'm going, to stop and say, well, what has changed? What’s happening here? And it has meant to me to share that when I can with someone else, with a spiritual director who can challenge me or invite me to go further. It's been a continual part of my journey that has been very, very important.”
“What sustains me? I would name two things. One is prayer, that daily coming into a relationship with God. Paul in Acts of the Apostles says it is in God that we live, move and have our being. That speaks to me; to be able to connect to that each day is part of what sustains me on the journey. And I would say the other part is community. It's that relationship we have as sisters with each other and supporting one another and being friend to one another, and also challenging one another and walking together. I have gone places that I never would have dreamed that I would go because we did it, being in mission, together.”
“Mission, I think it's something that everyone is called to share our talents and our gifts with others in some way to serve others, serve our brothers and sisters in the world, that together we can make life better for each other, that we can build the kingdom of God. Make somehow that God's presence is more keenly felt by others, and by ourselves in the process.”
“Conversion happens on the journey. We rub elbows with each other and we're open to learning and sometimes we're not so open to learning, but when you rub elbows things happen. Who is my neighbor? Everyone. And beyond everyone, the creatures and the earth and the trees. And I think there are a lot of things that help us.... Francis just talked about everything being brother and sister; but sometimes we look at someone and they're so different. They believe something different. Their color of skin is different or they come from a different country. They're on the other side of that border. And somehow we forget that we're all brothers and sisters, that we’re on this journey together….”
“But it's beyond that. And now with climate change, we're seeing how much we're on this journey with the earth, too. And the animals and the plants and the bugs and everybody else! That we're all neighbor, we're all brother and sister and we can help each other, sometimes we hurt each other, but that's part of the journey. And conversion is recognizing that. And how can we live in a way that we make God more present, God's love and compassion more present, to others and to ourselves?”
“The value of being brother and sister at this time in our history is very important. There is a lot of division and a lot of hurt and anger, and not recognizing that we are all together really. And so I think that value is, is very key.
Another value that I think is very important is that all is gift. What we receive, none of us, none of us earned it. Yes, we worked and yet that we were able to work, that I have the gift of sight, that I have the possibility to think and to work and to study, and it's all gift. It is all gift from a good and loving God. And that that gift is really for sharing.
These two, conversion and contemplation…bring us together to know that we can't go it alone, that we need each other.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
What is catechesis? See https://pvm.archchicago.org/lifelong-formation/what-is-lifelong-formation and https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55436/what-is-catechesis .
Spiritual Direction: Spiritual directors accompany individuals or groups in deepening their spiritual lives and their relationship with God. See interview with Teresa Blythe: https://youtu.be/b6l7UN9wxEg; for further exploration, listen to Sister Michelle at: https://40minutesoffaith.com/podcast/spiritualdirection..
Quotes:
“The un-reflected life is not worth living,” Socrates.
“In him we live and move and have our being,” Saint Paul, Acts of the Apostles 17:28.
Maryknoll magazine: downloadable at https://www.maryknollmagazine.org/ .
Homeless Helping Homeless (HHH), with Mary and Harry Fleegel: see article Sr Janice referred to: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/inspired-by-franciscan-way-of-life-retired-st-cloud-couple-embraces-renewed-call-to-help-poor/ . The website for HHH is: https://homelesshelpinghomeless.org/ .
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Join Sister Elise Saggau as she explores Franciscan life, like the gospel from which it takes its inspiration, as offering us a meaningful way of viewing life, which in turn translates into practical daily choices.
From Sister Elise’s interview:
“Conversion means a lifelong process by which each of us grows and matures into as full a human being as we can possibly be; this process involves stages or passages. … And these passages are essentially transformative in our life. When we undergo a conversion or when we undergo a new stage of personal growth, we have to leave behind what's familiar, what's comfortable, and we have to move into the unknown. I think that is often scary for people; it has been scary for me at different times of my life. ... It's only by moving into it that you find out that you not only have room for it, but it expands you and it gives you more room, more space to move about, more space to grow. And each of these stages brings you into a new stage of this greater expanded way of living.”
“All human beings go through this. And we who are in a religious way of living and reflecting on our life in a religious way, we believe these transformative moments lead us into becoming the very person that God intended from the moment of our creation. God didn't make us complete at the beginning. God created us, but God created us as possibility, and those possibilities have to keep getting fulfilled. Otherwise, if we don't die physically, we die internally.”
“St. Francis really understood conversion. And he understood it as an ever greater turning towards Christ and towards the gospel. He saw in the gospel...a universal formula for human growth and for the kind of growth that God intends for us. And he saw in Christ an absolute model of what human life can be. [Francis] wanted to follow Christ through the stages of life, to a greater life. He underwent this process in such a way that he was able then to provide a model for other people. They were drawn to his spirit and to his way of understanding…. They began to learn from Francis and follow him. It's very natural because it's part of our nature to be this way, to be growing people. To be growing beyond where we are into a larger and more complete form of ourselves.”
“Being a Franciscan is not primarily a matter of how one serves or what ministry. To me, it's a matter of how one lives. I believe that essential to our Franciscan Third Order Regular way of life is a community life centered on the other. …. I believe that the Franciscan view is that the other, no matter who he or she is, is a brother or a sister. That is fundamental to our Franciscan understanding.… this view of being sister or brother, recognizing the other as sister or brother, extends even to the more extensive creation. This is very Franciscan too -- the earth and all that it supports, the sun, the moon, the stars, the universe is part of a vast relationship, and all are worthy of attention and respect, and all speak to us of God, the source of all good.”
“This Franciscan way of life is like the gospel itself, from which it takes its inspiration. … It offers human beings a meaningful way of viewing life that translates into practical daily consequences. That's what a spirituality is; it takes a great spiritual concept and translates it into a way that we can live. And Francis and his way have been perennially, for 800 years attractive to human beings. Now I keep asking myself, how is this possible that this little guy over 800 years ago started something with so much power, it just spread around the world and it's still going. ... It gives color, it gives texture to our life in ways that are unique to the particular tradition. And we understand through our Franciscan way, our gospel way, that life is a pure gift, that every day is to be cherished and received with gratitude.”
“Just like Franciscanism has endured for 800 years, Gospel values have endured for over 2000 years, and millions of human beings have found meaning for their lives in the Christian way. 800 years ago, Francis and his followers chose to live the gospel in a way that was accessible to anyone, anywhere. It crossed all social and cultural lines and it continues to do so, even up to the present moment…. What is there about it that is so appealing?”
“We call our way of life Franciscan, but that's because we have received a certain historical spiritual tradition shaped and modeled by Francis of Assisi. He was a paradigmatic figure who lived in Italy in the 13th century and shared a spirit with a large community of people. An international community. We can shift away from that idea of an identifiable religious spirituality, because I think a life lived in gratitude and generosity, a life open to the wonder of the world around us and a life oriented to the welfare of others, a humble attitude that does not take any of life's opportunities or gifts for granted can be lived by anyone, anywhere. Models of such a life are abundant and are all around us. And each of our lives matters a great deal in the circles in which we live. And each one of us -- it doesn't matter what our religious background is -- every single day, each one of us decides what kind of a life we will live today and what we decide matters. It makes a difference. That decision has to be made every single day of our life. It's not something we decide once and then that's it. There's a universalism about this and you can go anywhere in the world and you can find these values. When we systematize them and classify them under a religious category or a spiritual category, that's all very good and helpful. But it's not exclusive. This is … a call to human beings. I think that somehow in the core of the Christian way of life and the core of Franciscan way of life, there is this call and message to anyone anywhere.”
For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].
References:
Haecceitas, term coined by Franciscan friar John Duns Scotus refers the uniqueness and dignity of all that exists; here are two references: https://cac.org/irreplaceable-thisness-2018-03-18/ , and https://www.ssfamericas.org/post/a-hagiography-of-blessed-john-duns-scotus
Pope John XXIII convened the Vatican II; Council: here is a link to his opening prayer for the Council: https://www.papalartifacts.com/september-23-1959-pope-st-john-xxiiis-prayer-for-vatican-ii/ . To hear other podcast guests references to Vatican II, as well as to see show note links (click on ‘Read More’), type ‘Vatican’ into the search bar of this website, and several options will come up to explore.
Discernment: There are many spiritual traditions of discernment; here are some Franciscan discernment resources: https://osfphila.org/discernment-franciscan-style/ , together with a practical example from the Franciscan Mission Service: https://franciscanmissionservice.org/programs/apply/discernment/ .
Metanoia: Greek word with a rich range of translations ranging from biblical penance, to change of mind, to spiritual conversion. In our Third Order Regular Rule and Life commentary on article 2, three elements of metanoia are highlighted: to acknowledge God in creation, Scripture and in Jesus Christ; to adore God with one’s whole life; and to serve God in one’s neighbor. (1982, p. 37)
Saint Francis meeting with Leper: one contemporary reflection on this experience of Francis is: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-meets-the-leper . For links to original texts and other resources, type ‘leper’ into the search bar of this website, and several options will come up to explore by listening to the cited podcasts, and/or by going to the show note links (click on ‘Read More’) for each indicated episode.
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