Franciscan Spirit Blog

The Inbreaking of the Word: Week 4 of Advent

From Father Jim: "While we celebrate the birth of Christ as this great memorial, as this great celebration, as this great solemnity. We are a people with feet in two worlds, the world to come and the world that is ...
Read More →

Earth: A World of Splendor

For our son Eli’s 9th birthday, we got him an honest-to-goodness magic kit: a top hat, wand, red sequined vest, black cape, and a number of props. One of the best parenting memories I have is of Eli—with the help ...
Read More →
Candles in church

An Easter Pageant in Three Liturgical Acts

Death and sin have been conquered; life and grace reign supreme. We just have to have a major gala of happiness and rejoicing.
Read More →

Lent with Pope Francis: True Concern for the Poor

A Word from Pope Francis Selfishness leads nowhere and love frees. Those who are able to live their lives as a gift to give others will never be alone and will never experience the drama of the isolated conscience. Jesus ...
Read More →
Christ crucified | Photo by Christian GAFENESCH on Unsplash

Lent with Father Casey Cole: Filling a Hungry Heart

Chinese food is one of the many gifts from God on this earth. Cheap, easily accessible, usually sold in enormous quantities, and basically uniform in quality across the country.
Read More →
thorn tree | Photo by Andrey Grinkevich on Unsplash

Lent: More Than Penance

To think of Lent only as a time of penance is to do it an injustice.
Read More →

The Healing of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

“Bless me Father for I have. . . . ” Perhaps one of the hardest things we do is admit to our own wrongdoing. It’s hard to say that we have sinned—and be willing to turn our life around to ...
Read More →

Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter

Includes Saint of the Day, Minute Meditations, and Pause + Pray.