Franciscan Spirituality #6: Origins to Francis, Part 3 - Feb 16 - Homily - Fr Terrance

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Feb 16, 2023, and continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality as he gives more background leading up to St. Francis, this time focusing on the early Christians and their spirituality.

First three centuries much persecution.

Shared all things in common

Early Christians focused on prep for the coming of Christ and his poverty, humility, and penance

Christians were still a small group but strong in faith, heroic

Precepts are obligatory for salvation vs. Council, worthwhile for perfection

Evangelical councils of religious orders: Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience

Rich young man mat 19 17 if you would be perfect

Being Christian was a very heroic thing willing to be a martyr

Martyrs are witnesses by shedding their blood and would go straight to heaven

After Constantine, Christianity became more mainstream but less heroic

To keep the faith strong, the heroic ones went to the deserts with heroic penance, starting the heretical movement, Desert Fathers

These then organized into monasteries

Focus was a spiritual battle

prayer, work, fasting, spiritual combat

Perfection through abnegation, give everything to the poor

Not so focused on the relationship with God, love of God

This did not become prominent until later, but especially with St Francis.

The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., "I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana" in Italian, which translates as "The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality". No English translations exist at the time of this recording.
Ave Maria!

Mass: Thursday 6th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
1st: gen 9:1-13
Resp: psa 102:16-21, 29, 22-23
Gsp: mar 8:27-33

[mazikode]

Thank you and God bless you Fr Terrance

[juliananordhoff]

Thank you, Father, for helping me dig deeper into our Franciscan spirituality with this series.