Franciscan Spirit Blog

Lent with Padre Pio: Easter Sunday

As we celebrate Sunday, let us remember to move forward in the spirit of Padre Pio—caring for and serving others so that they may come to know Christ.
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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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Franciscan Inspirations: Learning to Be Human

Some of Jesus’ parables are long and difficult to interpret at times. But there are other times when the images Jesus uses make his teachings clear as crystal.
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