T
T.A.Stobie_SFO
Guest
**Franciscan Spirituality
**
We are often asked “What is Franciscan Spirituality?”
A combination of loving, seeing God in all and simplicity,
But for those who practice it, it comes in different varieties
By individual, time, and God’s Will, it significantly varies.
Franciscans love God, others, and self to the best of their ability,
Improving the depth and breadth of their love continuously.
Loving God comes first, for with His love, we love others;
We treat all people of the world as dear sisters and brothers.
Franciscans to improve their ability to love more and more purely
Seek to undergo conversion towards God and holiness continuously,
By performing acts of penance, working on loving and living better,
Avoiding the near occasions of sin, praying and focusing on God more.
Franciscans see God in every person and thing we encounter,
Life in all its varieties, good actions, science, and nature,
Human interactions, liturgy, readings, and sacred scripture;
For God is in all things and everyone particularly in the poor.
Franciscans try to live in simplicity, not wanting more and more,
Just using what we have and being generous to the nearby poor.
We do not clutter our lives with many objects and possessions,
But use whatever we get to better love and fulfill our vocations.
Franciscan Spirituality varies widely not only between persons,
But also from time to time individually for God’s secret reasons.
It can include mysticism, miracles, and sensing God’s presence,
dryness, sufferings, and require faithfulness and perseverance.
The core of Franciscan Spirituality is loving God with all we are,
And letting God’s love flow through us to all that we encounter,
Seeing others are God sees them, with kindness, love, and mercy,
And letting God mold us into the best people that we can ever be.
Copyright 2015 - Thomas A. Stobie, SFO. Permission to copy for personal use granted.
**
We are often asked “What is Franciscan Spirituality?”
A combination of loving, seeing God in all and simplicity,
But for those who practice it, it comes in different varieties
By individual, time, and God’s Will, it significantly varies.
Franciscans love God, others, and self to the best of their ability,
Improving the depth and breadth of their love continuously.
Loving God comes first, for with His love, we love others;
We treat all people of the world as dear sisters and brothers.
Franciscans to improve their ability to love more and more purely
Seek to undergo conversion towards God and holiness continuously,
By performing acts of penance, working on loving and living better,
Avoiding the near occasions of sin, praying and focusing on God more.
Franciscans see God in every person and thing we encounter,
Life in all its varieties, good actions, science, and nature,
Human interactions, liturgy, readings, and sacred scripture;
For God is in all things and everyone particularly in the poor.
Franciscans try to live in simplicity, not wanting more and more,
Just using what we have and being generous to the nearby poor.
We do not clutter our lives with many objects and possessions,
But use whatever we get to better love and fulfill our vocations.
Franciscan Spirituality varies widely not only between persons,
But also from time to time individually for God’s secret reasons.
It can include mysticism, miracles, and sensing God’s presence,
dryness, sufferings, and require faithfulness and perseverance.
The core of Franciscan Spirituality is loving God with all we are,
And letting God’s love flow through us to all that we encounter,
Seeing others are God sees them, with kindness, love, and mercy,
And letting God mold us into the best people that we can ever be.
Copyright 2015 - Thomas A. Stobie, SFO. Permission to copy for personal use granted.