Franciscan Spirituality #6: Origins to Francis, Part 3 – Feb 16 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Feb 16, 2023, and continues his series on Franciscan Spirituality as he gives more background leading up to St. Francis, this time focusing on the early Christians and their spirituality.
First three centuries much persecution.
Shared all things in common
Early Christians focused on prep for the coming of Christ and his poverty, humility, and penance
Christians were still a small group but strong in faith, heroic
Precepts are obligatory for salvation vs. Council, worthwhile for perfection
Evangelical councils of religious orders: Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience
Rich young man mat 19 17 if you would be perfect
Being Christian was a very heroic thing willing to be a martyr
Martyrs are witnesses by shedding their blood and would go straight to heaven
After Constantine, Christianity became more mainstream but less heroic
To keep the faith strong, the heroic ones went to the deserts with heroic penance, starting the heretical movement, Desert Fathers
These then organized into monasteries
Focus was a spiritual battle
prayer, work, fasting, spiritual combat
Perfection through abnegation, give everything to the poor
Not so focused on the relationship with God, love of God
This did not become prominent until later, but especially with St Francis.
This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom
The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., "I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana" in Italian, which translates as "The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality". No English translations exist at the time of this recording.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday 6th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021623.cfm
1st: gen 9:1-13
Resp: psa 102:16-21, 29, 22-23
Gsp: mar 8:27-33
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1392
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and YouTube: https://youtu.be/v0Jj0i_R_5c
