Br. Ricky Kmenlang Mawlong, OFH says, "I am 23 years old. I am from North East India. I am a Roman Catholic and I belong to The Shillong Archdiocese - St. Dominic Savio Church, Mawlai Parish. I am still decerning my Vocation - I want to be a Follower of St. Francis of Assisi.
~A Psalm of Uncertainty~ The road behind me has washed away in a torrent of hopeful tears. The road before me, today a vaporous mystery, awaits a construction of faith. On this tiny speck of solid ground which bears Your Name, I stand and call to You… I am relying upon Your Grace to be greater than my sorrow and bitterness. I am relying upon Your strength to carry me when I feel weary and worn. I am relying upon Your Wisdom to guide me into tomorrow’s unknown country. I am relying upon Your LOVE to lift and lead, to surround and saturate. *”I determine amidst all uncertainty always to trust. I choose to live beyond regret, and let You recreate my life.” I trust in You alone to provide and protect, to hold and heal, to inspire and indwell all the days of my life. My vow is to You, O Gracious One, for You have been with me always, no matter the adversity. In my loneliest hours, You are there. In my darkest moments, You are the Light of Hope. You are the Perfect Love Who casts out all fear. The tiny speck of solid ground beneath my feet, supporting, and never letting me fall. From the womb I have known Your Grace, and my gratitude has been ever present. You are with me in my hour of uncertainty, as I choose the materials with which to build the road before me. Help me to choose wisely and with great love. May my steps be pleasing to You, and worthy of the Grace You shower upon me. My Heart. My Home. My Health. My Hope. My Heaven. My All. You Are. And I am Yours. ~Sister Brigid Clare (*quoted prayer verse is from St. Brendan the Navigator) 
Br. Lyle Fleury, OFH says he was, "Raised in Vermont by loving grandparents. US Army, Franciscan Order of Friars Minor,YMCA Program director of International Crossroads, Family Business until retirement some 20 years ago. Volunteer work for some 50 years, this was to bring to the human race the works of peace through the arts. Officer in many National and International Orgs. To bring about peace in the world. Pax et Bonum"
Br. Francis John Wulf, OFH says, "I converted to the Catholic Church in 1988. I became a professed Secular Franciscan in April of 1991. I was the Formation Director of St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity of the local Secular Franciscans Order here in Lincoln Nebraska for over 12 years. I took about six years off just to be a member at large. Then 9 years ago I became Minister of the St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity where I was Minister for 6 years. Then I became the Treasurer of the Fraternity for 3 years. I recently stepped down to just be a member at large. My life has be richly blessed as a Franciscan. My vocation as a Franciscan started more of a Hollywood version of St. Francis until I had a chance to work in a homeless shelter/soup kitchen ran by the Sacred Heart Province Franciscans and saw what being a Franciscan was really about. Ever since then I've been lucky to be a member of OFS. I have never looked back. I have a full time job and that is my mission field, I am a Chef/Manager/Educator by trade. In my spare time I love to make blankets, jams/jellies and Rosary's."
I open my heart
to pour out all that does not serve the Purpose of Love; every grievance void of Grace, every pernicious lie of victimization which denies the startling Truth of Imago Dei; Christ within this humble clay. I open my heart to invite and receive The Holy One’s Blessed, Best Dream for me; moment by miraculous moment made into Sweet Reality by Love’s Hand Guiding, Love’s Word Speaking, Love’s Bounty providing, Love’s Kiss within my soul, inspiring me to wallow and walk in Wonder, in Beauty, in Peace, and in the Consummate Joy of Knowing and Being Known. I open my heart to pour out Presence and Empathy; to leave a gentle dusting from the Gifts graciously given me, to share my little bit with all the Love I can muster, and pray my simple spark might be part of the Ever Growing Light of Parousia drawing nigh. I open my heart to invite and receive Healing and Wholeness, and Faith beyond feeling; and Courage to walk with eyes opened wide equally in celebration and suffering, gathering strength sown deep inside, long recessed and hidden, shy, vulnerable and doubt-ridden, I vow in this miraculous moment, now to start walking in The Way of the Open Heart. ~Sister Brigid Clare Photo taken in my childhood church, The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Baltimore, Maryland, on the 40th anniversary of my First Holy Communion.
I saw the temples crumble
stones turned to bread to feed the poor what once was high now humble so those with less are offered more saw the sacred vestments wrapped round a mother's freezing child and in their warm contentment saw Bethlehem's Babe and Mary mild I saw the fire burning the Heart aflame that livens all and in my own heart's yearning heard my Poverello's call~ "Rebuild God's Church," is what he said, "with mortar of Love and stones of Bread". ~Sister Brigid Clare (This song came into my heart as I made my way home from Compline this evening. Usually I select an image to accompany my words, but I can find no adequate image for what I saw and felt in my spirit tonight. I will only say what is already known; that God loves us all so deeply, especially "the least of these". Gentle Blessings to All.) 
I want my life
to become ruins, daises to grow where once floors were swept. Dear God, dismantle all the structures – the walls I built, closed ideas I kept. I want the sky to be my ceiling, birds to fly through windows once shut tight. Remove my heart from its cold, stone casing – Expose it to Your elements and light. I want my life to become ruins, peaceful, open, welcoming the breeze. Dear God, tend to the greening of my spirit – visit me beneath the sheltering trees. ~Sister Brigid Clare 
I am but a little one
after Your Heart wrapped in ribbons of Your gentle grace content in every space Your Presence dwells in the quiet of my simple room my faint heart swells as prayer pervades my soul, my song; a cloud of sweet perfume all this longing in my breast finds its Home and Final Rest In Your warm and precious Love alone I am but a little one grown in the Light of Brother Sun another foolish heart to call Your Own. ~Sister Brigid Clare Gentle Blessings to All. 
Sr. Rosemarie Stevens, OFH says, "My hermit journey began in 1964 with entrance to the Monastery of Poor Clares in Santa Barbara, California. Then continued as co-foundress of a Monastery in Zambia, Africa. From there I received an indult to live as a hermitess and began at St Peter's Abbey in Sask, Canada which had a forest and six hermits and hermitesses from various orders. After a year and a fall and the weather, I returned to California and lived four years with the Camaldolese Hermits in Big Sur. Since then, it has been a rocky road as solitude and silence in California are difficult to come by. Most of the time I have been in the Big Sur area with the Camaldolese Hermitage as my anchor... but at this time am still on the road after a property I had hoped would provide a permanent place 12 miles south came into problems in the Courts. Blessings - Sister Rosemarie"
|
Archives
June 2021
|
RSS Feed
