FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

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FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY
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DEFINITIONS

• Relationship between theology and spirituality.
• Theology the study of God
• Spirituality the process of personal
  transformation
• Meaning of spirituality
• Being animated by God
• Driven by the Holy Spirit

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CALL OF ST. FRANCIS

• Called in his special way
• To represent God (faith)
• To speak of God (Evangelize)
• To go towards God (Spiritual journey)
• To treat with God (Prayer)

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ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN A PENITENTIAL LIFE

• A turning to God with all that one is
• Loving one's neighbor as oneself.
• Acknowledging and despising one's personal
  tendency to sin.
• Receiving the Eucharist devoutly.
• Allowing God's Spirit to dwell in us.

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WHAT SHOWS IN YOUR LIFE

• Joy, gratitude and care for the poor
• Brought about by Gods transforming love
• And by Gods giftedness of creation
• Detachment from the things of this world
• Brings about peace and joy a gift of God
• Unconditional love

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PRAYER

• Like Francis, were active and contemplative
• Open ones heart and mind to God
• Love and praise Him body, soul and mind
• Daily prayer Eucharist often

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SISTERS AND BROTHERS

• Foundation for everything minority or
  littleness
• See ourselves as brother/sister to all people and
  all creation
• Brother/sister relationships with all are
  encounters with Gods love
• Its not what we do but how we do it and who we
  are
• We walk with the poor and marginalized, those in
  need of healing, and those who hunger for God
• We are committed to care for the earth

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POVERTY

• Living simply
• Detachment
• Everything is a gift
• We are stewards
• We seek justice for all

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HUMILITY and CHARITY

• Moment of Francis conversion he kissed the
  leper
• Confronted his fear
• Embraced it
• Began a life of penance
• Seen in the incarnation
• Seen in the Eucharist
• Humbly reach out to all others

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COMMUNITY

• Called to live in community
• We need one another
• Can only experience humility and charity in
  community

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SELF-DENIAL

• Unite ourselves with Him.
• Substitute His perfect thoughts, will feelings
  for our imperfect ones.
• Alone we can do nothing.
• Through Him and with Him, we adore, praise and
  pray
• Christ is dearer to us than we are to ourselves
• We serve for Christ and with Christ

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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

• Commitment assumes failure will be part of the
  process of change and
• growth. How do I handle failure in my life?
  Give examples.
• 2. Am I giving God my whole body, soul and mind?
  How do I know?
• What are some signs of taking the wide way
  instead of the
• narrow way?
• 3. What choices am I confronted with regularly
  that require me to think of
• and put God first, instead of myself? How do I
  make those choices?
• 4. Philippians 23-4 says Do nothing out of
  selfishness or out of vainglory