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DarinHamel
Guest
Does anybody else ever get the impulse to give away all thier possessions, put on a robe, not join an Order and do a St Francis in this modern world?
I’ve had that urge many times, but as a married person it isn’t realistic. My wife and I are instead pursuing the Secular Franciscan Order and are about to enter candidacy. It’s a great way of uniting yourself with the spirit of St Francis in a way that ministers to the world from our state in life.It is definately daunting. Probably why I haven’t done it yet. No crosses speaking to me yet thank goodness. I just have this nagging feeling I should do it.
Sorry your group is not active. We could use you in our group. Recently, we were asked to paint all the statues and stations of the cross at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center. If a person put on a robe and did what Francis did today, that person would become part of the problem rather than a solution to poverty and homelessness. God Bless,I have joined the Secualar Franciscans. The group I joined has an average age of 70. They meet once a month and do nothing. I have heard of more active and younger groups but they are not close to me. I also checked out the Franciscan Monastery here in Detroit, the Fr Casey one and it was too ritzy for me. If I give up my job and house then I want to be totally like St Francis and Jesus. No place to call home and penniless.
I feel called to contemplation and poverty. I want to stay in Detroit too. I was born here and maybe for a reason.
Tell me about it!Does anybody else ever get the impulse to give away all thier possessions, put on a robe, not join an Order and do a St Francis in this modern world?
Not to be difficult but why? I used to work Downtown Detroit and saw and talked to its homeless daily. Now I work in the Hospitial down there. They need faith and hope. The world needs some sort of public witness by the True Church in my opinion.If a person put on a robe and did what Francis did today, that person would become part of the problem rather than a solution to poverty and homelessness. God Bless,
Deacon Tony SFO
Good point, they need someone to help them, not join them.Not to be difficult but why? I used to work Downtown Detroit and saw and talked to its homeless daily. Now I work in the Hospitial down there. They need faith and hope. The world needs some sort of public witness by the True Church in my opinion.
How is renouncing the distractions of consumer society in favor of a life of poverty and consecration selfish? (Read Luke 18:22-30.) If one has the potential to become holy through God’s grace, and he feels like isolating himself to do so is the way in which he is called to achieve this…he achieves much indeed for obeying God. I wouldn’t call St. Anthony of Egypt, St. Benedict, or any of the other desert fathers or consecrated hermits selfish by any means. They were great men who left their comfort zones to serve Christ in a radical way.To do such a thing would be to choose a very selfish life. Why not serve by helping those in particular need? What does shutting yourself off from the world achieve? God gave you gifts - why isolate yourself and not use them? I think we all have the urge to jump off the planet sometimes but we are here for a reason. Anyone who seriously does that sort of thing needs to talk to a psychologist first.