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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The Franciscan Saints: Jacopone Benedetti

Franciscan Poet (1230–1306) Jacopone Benedetti was a prosperous lawyer in the Umbrian town of Todi. His life took a tragic turn one day when his young wife was killed in an accident. This terrible loss was compounded by the belated ...
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The Franciscan Saints: Agnes of Bohemia

Princess and Abbess (ca. 1203–1280) Agnes was born in Prague, where her father was the king of Bohemia. Despite the privileges of her station, she enjoyed no freedom to decide her own destiny. She was simply a commodity to be ...
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The Franciscan Saints: Maximilian Kolbe

Franciscan Martyr (1894–1941) On July 30, 1941, a prisoner escaped from Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi camp in Poland. In retaliation, the commandant lined up inmates of cell block fourteen and ordered that ten of them be selected for death. When ...
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St. Kateri Tekakwitha: Princess of the Eucharist

For many years, American Catholics who wanted to follow in the footsteps of a saint had to travel to Europe. In Assisi, they could step where St. Francis did. In Ireland, they might walk the byways of St. Patrick.
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Cars driving on the highway in the desert

Following Jesus through Life’s Traffic Jams

I was driving home from Myrtle Beach with my sisters and we came across a heavy load of traffic just as we were passing through the Smokey Mountains.
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sand in the hand | Photo by Elijah Hiett on Unsplash

Franciscan Inspirations: Grains of Sand

Jesus spoke of the potential of the tiny mustard seed: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Lk ...
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