Franciscan Living of Scripture
(According to Celano’s
theology of how Francis grew spiritually)
“…gaze upon Him,
consider Him, contemplate Him as you desire to imitate Him.”
(St.
Clare’s 2nd Letter to Bl. Agnes of Prague, p. 197 Francis & Clare, Armstrong &
Brady)
I. Hearing –
Conversion (First Celano 1-22)
“This is what I
want, this is what I seek this is what I desire with all my heart.”
(2Cor
7:4; First Celano 22)
Listen to what touches your heart in the reading.
First Reader: ( Leader
chooses a short text from Scripture or Franciscan Sources.)
Response: say aloud only a word or a phrase.
II. Doing – Action (First Celano 22-70)
“For he was no
deaf hearer of the Gospel; rather he committed everything he heard to his
excellent memory and was careful to carry it out to the letter.” (First Celano 22)
Listening
Focus: How do I live this word?
Second Reader:
Response: One minute to share your lived
experience. Please, no homilies or speeches.
III. Seeing - Contemplation (First
Celano 71-87)
“Let us always
make a home and a dwelling place for Him Who is the Lord
God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit…” (Jn
Listening
Focus: Let yourself be absorbed
by your word
Third Reader:
Response: Three minutes of silent being in the
Presence of God.
IV. Becoming -
Transformation (First Celano 88-118)
Francis: “We have
been called to this: to heal the wounded, bind up the broken
and recall those
who have lost their way.” (L3C 58, AC 38.)
Listening Focus:
on what change do you desire for
your life.
Fourth Reader:
Response: Faith sharing intercessions;
create an intercession for what you desire.
“I have done
what is mine; may Christ teach you yours.”
(1 Kgs
19:20; Eph 4:21. 2nd Life Celano par. 214; Bonaventure LM Chap 13, par. 3.)
Closing Prayer: “We adore you…” (or another prayer that may fit the particular occasion.
Retreat Notes
Hellman,
A Franciscan Text:
Read
only once as a introduction.
48 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest
upon all those men and women
who have done and persevered in these
things and
It will make a home and dwelling place
in them.
Read
four times by four different readers.
49And they will be the children of the
heavenly Father,
Whose works they do.
50And they are spouses, brothers and
mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.
51 We are spouses when the faithful soul
is united
by the Holy Spirit to our Lord Jesus
Christ.
52 We are brothers, moreover, when we do
the will of His Father
Who is in heaven;
"mothers when we carry Him in our
heart and body
through love and a pure and sincere
conscience; and
give Him birth through a holy activity,
which must shine before others by
example.
FAED I pp. 48-49. To The Brothers and Sisters of Penance by St. Francis
of
(Second Version of the Letter to the Faithful) (1220?)
Closing Prayer:
[Prayer](1225-1226)
50 Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God,
give us miserable ones the grace to do for You alone
what we know you want us to do
and always to desire what pleases You.
51 inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened
and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit,
may we be able to follow
in the footprints of Your beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
52and, by Your grace alone, may we make our way to You,
Most High, Who live and rule
in perfect Trinity and simple Unity, and are glorified
God almighty, forever and ever. Amen.
From FAED I A Letter to the Entire Order. pp. 120-121
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