Outright Joy

For the “romance” of Clare and Francis has always exuded a warmth and a brightness that cannot be accounted for by the actual events. I believe the source of that fire is partly our own…

Today’s One-Liner (#270)

I became and remain convinced that life has never been more thrillingly worth living than it was when Francis, Thomas, Innocent III, and Dante stalked this earth. —Ross J. S. Hoffman, in The Road to…

Paying Close Attention

Francis showed great tenderness for all of God’s creatures, however humble. Remembering the Psalmist’s words: As for me, I am a worm and no man, he would pick up any earth-worms he found in his…

Appreciation Is the Sacrament

 Now the preaching of St. Francis was on this wise: “My sisters the birds, much are ye beholden unto God your creator, and alway and in every place ought ye to praise Him, because He…

Today’s One-Liner (#215)

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;  in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.  –Saint Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Sun, translated by Bill Barrett from the Umbrian…

Perfect Joy

ONCE when St. Francis was coming from Perugia to Santa Maria degli Angeli with Friar Leo in the winter, and the very great cold vexed him sore, he called Friar Leo, who was going before,…

Today’s One-Liner (#196)

Even among the saints he has the air of a sort of eccentric, if one may use the word of one whose eccentricity consisted in always turning towards the centre. –G. K. Chesterton, from his…

Today’s One-Liner (#155)

When our relationships become strained we can ask ourselves what Jesus would have done—or, when that seems too lofty, what Saint Teresa or Saint Francis wold have done.  —Eknath Easwaran, Original Goodness, 166