Franciscan Videos - St Francis and Assisi

                                  









The Secret of St Francis                                            
                                                                                                                 Assisi - The home of St Francis    
  
Peace and Blessings on this beautiful day !!

I have attached two very good slideshows / videos. The first is called the 'Secret of St Francis' and the second is some footage of Assisi, the place where Francis lived, ministered and died.

Francis' life forms how we live our life as Capuchin Friars. He wrote the rule that we live by, he is our Father, Brother and inspiration.

Please enjoy, if you have any questions or would like to know more about Francis or our way of life please e-mail :  capuchinvocation@gmail.com

What is a Capuchin Franciscan vocation.......?

A Capuchin vocation, like ALL vocations, is a response to God asking you a question. That question is the same question He asked the Apostles 2,000 years ago, namely, 'Will you follow me?'.

But what does this mean in real terms? Is to follow merely to walk behind? to copy? to row in with? I don't, for an instant, feel that this is what Jesus meant when he utters those words to us. To 'follow' means much more... it means responding to the stirrings of the Spirit within, in an open hearted and generous way, in order to serve God and all Creation.

For us Capuchins, as with all religious orders, to follow takes a particular form, we call a charism. A charism is how we, as Franciscans and Capuchins, express this call in the world. For us our foundations as three fold : Fraternity (Brotherhood to all Creation); Prayer and Contemplation and Evangelisation (Bringing the Good News to the world).

We live as Brothers, in fraternity with each other. But this fraternity isn't contained to the friary but rather spills out into all that we do. Recently our Minister General, Br Mauro, said that our mission as Capuchins is to 'make the world more fraternal'.

Prayer is central to our life. Prayer is communication with God and we do this through our daily communal praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary, celebration of the Eucharist and personal contemplation.

St Francis once said ' Preach always - use words only when necessary!'. The Capuchins have always had a very strong tradition as preachers whether at Mass, in retreats or Parish missions. But we also preach through our actions and our ministries. Friars minister in many are varied fields including with the homeless, the poor, in hospitals, schools, parishes and now even on-line !

If you feel called, as St Francis did, to 'Go rebuild' the Church of the Lord and are interested in more information on our way of life, you are most welcome to contact our Vocation Director
Br Terence Harrington
086 3230638 or at capuchinvocation@gmail.com


Pax


Br Martin

Liturgy of the Hours (online resource)

Greetings on this beautiful Spring Day !

As friars we celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) at Morning, Noon and Evening together. The Liturgy consists of a Hymn, Psalms, Scripture reading and intercessions for the Church and the World. We we pray the office, we never pray it alone - even if we are alone - because we pray it as part of the Universal Church, the people and mystical body of Christ.

I have attached a link to a great on-line resource, allowing access to the Daily Office.

May the Spirit of God, flow over you, through you and with you, as you pray this ancient, beautiful and Universal prayer.

Pax

Br Martin

Liturgy of the Hours

Our Lenten Themed Blog ...

As with Advent, the Season of Lent is marked by a change in Liturgical colour from Green (ordinary time) to Purple (Lent / Advent).

This colour signifies that we are in a time of penance and waiting. That it is a different and special time, and that something out of the ordinary is going on.

Lent is a time of searching, a time of wandering in the desert, as Jesus did himself, a time to find a new direction in life ... so we have tried to reflect that image too.

We hope you like
Br Martin

Pace e Bene ..... let me explain !

Hi All

Since posting yesterday about our new group for young adults in Church Street - The Pace e Bene Group, I have been asked what does it mean. Well, let me explain..!

Pace e Bene is an old greeting used by the Friars, used by Francis and Clare, Pio and Anthony and everybody in between. It translates as 'Peace and Goodness'. But why do we use that greeting? I have been thinking about this and would like to offer three reasons:

1. The first is rooted in the words of Jesus Christ. When Jesus sent the Apostles out for the first time, he said to them, that when they entered a village and knocked on a door, they should greet the people by saying 'Peace be with you!'. He said if a person of Peace lived there, your Peace will remain with them, if not, it will return to you.
2. Secondly,it is rooted in our Franciscan Tradition. St Francis saw EVERYTHING as Good because everything comes from God who is Goodness Himself (with a Capital G!). Francis wrote 'Mi Signore, Sei il Bene, tutto Bene, multo Bene' - 'My Lord, you are Good, every Good, All Good'. 
3. Thirdly, it is rooted in our Christian identity and mission. When we greet somebody with 'Pace e Bene' or in another similar form (Pax et Bonum ... Peace and Goodness.. Peace by with you), we are identifying ourselves as Representatives of Peace (with a Capital P) and Good (with a Capital G), who is God. 

Peace and Goodness, the essential message of Jesus Christ, is the essence of Christian living and discipleship. It is what we need as individuals, as families, as a society and a world. 

So Pace e Bene to you all !!

Br Martin

Taking time to Listen to the Voice within

Nada te Turbe (Let Nothing Trouble You) - Taize

One of the essentials of discerning any vocation is cultivating the ability to create a sacred space in which we can listen to the voice within, the voice of God. We are born with this inner voice, the echo of Creation and the Creator, but as we grow up, grow busier, grow noisier we can turn down the volume of this voice... but it is ALWAYS there, to guide, to support, to encourage, to forgive, to LOVE.

Taize, has been a great support to me through my discernment and journey. Taize chant, is repetitive, meditative and calming, allowing the Lord the space to turn up the volume a little bit. Thousands of young people visit Taize in the South of France every year, where they experience prayer, meditation, fellowship, support, community, love.... The Lord!  There are many Taize groups in Ireland and, as Capuchin Friars, we have had the great honour of being involved with them in Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny and Donegal.

A favourite piece of scripture for me illustrates the gentleness of the God within. It comes from 1 Kings and is the story of Elijah meeting the Lord on the mountain:

Elijah was told, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' For at that moment the Lord was going by.  A mighty hurricane split the mountains and shattered the rocks .  But the Lord was not in the hurricane.  And after the hurricane, an earthquake.  But the Lord was not in the earthquake.

And after the earthquake, fire.  But the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire, a gentle breeze, the sound of silence.

And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak. (1Kings 19: 11 -13)

Today and always, may the Lord grant us the Grace to search for Him in the Silence of ourselves, to have the courage to create a sacred space for Him in our Day and to allow him to turn up His volume in our Hearts and lives. Amen

Pax
Br Martin

Pace e Bene Group for young Adults (18 - 35)

Greetings on this beautiful Spring morning!

From the 27th of March and every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month thereafter, we will be hosting what we have called the 'Pace e Bene Group' for young adults, in our Friary, Church St Dublin, following the 7pm Mass.

Who is this Group for?
Young Adults who would like to come together, in a Sacred Space, to share, support and search together. It will be an opportunity to explore our faith, spend some time in prayer and meditation, share our stories and experiences of Christ and to offer support and mutual up-building.

In an ever secularized society, it is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to have an opportunity to express, in real terms, the marvelous work the Holy spirit has done, and continues to do, in their lives.

If you usually attend the 7pm Mass in Church Street, if live in the Dublin area and you are a young person working for the Lord  or if you are searching for the Lord in your life, this is a great opportunity to meet in a spirit of prayer and community.

If you feel inspired to attend, please contact me at capfranciscanvocations@gmail.com

May the Lord give you His Peace
Br Martin