CIOFS – International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order – the Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis Ladywell Franciscan Retreat Centre – Godalming, Surrey Pantasaph Franciscan Retreat Centre – Holywell, Flintshire, Wales Cold Ash Retreat Centre – Berkshire run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Park Place Centre – Run by Franciscan Nuns – Wickham, Hampshire Order of […]
If you feel you’re being called to join us, take the first step and respond to Jesus with a joyful “YES”! If you’d like to get in touch or have any questions please email [email protected] May the Lord bless your journey of discernment. May He hold you and keep you. May He show His face […]
The Absorbeat, a medieval prayer, the words of which are below; was much loved by St Francis; he prayed it often. The prayer is incorporated in the Third Order Office, being said daily by members of the Third Order throughout the world. This piece was commissioned by Heather Hall TSSF, as a thanksgiving gift, to […]
Generally, when we use the term “Mental Health” we’re not referring to health at all, but to “illness” and “Mental Ill Health”. 800 years ago Francis met with, embraced and helped lepers. Today those rejected, or who feel less accepted, by society include men, women and children who suffer with schizophrenia, bipolar, post-traumatic stress disorder, […]
The music video above by All Sons and Daughters’ – “I surrender” above captures some wonderful sights of Assisi and is inspired by Francis giving himself to God. The video below is about the making of the above music track “I surrender”. “Francis had everything he could possibly desire, but God radically changed his mind […]
Conversion is a decision we make each morning to imitate the life of Jesus on our journey to Our Father. It’s a daily commitment saying …Yes Lord I will walk and live in Your truth, I will wait for you in praise with arms open wide. Isaiah 26 puts it this way: 8 Yes, walking […]
Saint Anthony of Padua 1195-1231 Doctor Evangelicus St Bonaventure – 1221-1274 – Doctor Seraphicus Bl Ramon Llull – Third Order – 1232-1315 – Doctor Illuminatus [Met Dun Scotus – similar thoughts about immaculate conception] Bl John Duns Scotus – 1266-1308 – Doctor Subtilis St Lawrence of Brindisi – 1559-1619 Doctor apostolicus third order Secular FRanciscan […]
If you would like to discover more about the Secular Franciscan way of life, or if you would like encouragement and support on your spiritual path, or if you like help finding your your local OFS Fraternity click whichever of the following links is closest to you, or the visit the CIOFS link that will […]
One of the best loved Saints is without a doubt St Clare of Assisi who lived in the 13th century and was a contemporary of St Francis. Her testimony shows us how indebted the Church is to courageous women, full of faith like her, who can give a crucial impetus to the Church’s renewal. So […]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, In a recent Catechesis, I illustrated the providential role the Orders of Friars Minor and the Order of Preachers, founded by St Francis of Assisi and St Dominic de Guzmán respectively, played in the renewal of the Church in their day. Today I would like to present to you the figure […]
Francis and Clare : together they changed the world Growth with God Franciscans continually grow in an awareness of God’s presence and work among us. We open our eyes to the faith dimension of life, interpreting life from gospel perspectives. People are more important to us then profits – even though we can run good […]
Below is a talk by Father Peter Hall OFM about Secular Franciscan Vocation and Profession into the OFS. Together these five audio files make up his speech and are posted here with kind permission of Fr Patrick Lonsdale OFM. Part 1 of 5 http://franciscanseculars.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/peter-hall-ofm-pt1-ofs-vocation.mp3 Father Peter Hall OFM – Spiritual Assistant of the OFS GB […]
The boy inclines his head, but looks. She keeps a gaze fixed down To touch her heart submissively. The lily and the crown Await. A garden wall extends Beyond the curve of arch That reaches round to hold them In one still act. A silence keeps Watch like an open eye. If there was a […]
I first heard these wonderful words of the Incarnation during a candle lit Advent service at St Thomas’s in Cowes a few weeks ago, and today Ed Matyjaszek has given permission to share his poem on our website. Some words of the Incarnation encourage us to imagine pictures, some invite us to re-create sounds and […]
