Franciscan Spirit Blog

Top 10 Most Influential Catholics: Famous Catholic People That Impacted the Faith

In celebration of their holiness, virtue, and influence, here is a Top Ten list of saints who substantially shaped the face of the Catholic Church.
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Catholics and Politics

If we want candidates of integrity, shouldn’t we be persons of integrity, too?
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Homeless sign | Photo by Timur Weber

Homeless Like Me

She had taken me for a homeless woman, and she was afraid of homeless people like me.
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Pray on the Way: A Pilgrimage Story

I went through Italy last summer. Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs took our group to places associated with Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Pope John XXIII.
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Statue of St. Anthony and Jeuss | Photo by Wolfgang Krzemien

Franciscan Inspirations: Memories of Padua

As the feast of Saint Anthony (June 13) draws near, my memories go back to Padua where I spent several days in 2014.
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People gather for Midnight Mass

A Short Christmas Prayer

The prayers of the new translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition have been in use for several weeks now.
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cross with the sun behind it | Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash

Giving Up on Giving Up: A Lenten Reflection

Years ago, as Lent approached, I asked a trusted spiritual counselor what he was going to give up. He gave me a sly grin and said, “I’m giving up giving things up for Lent.”
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