As the congregation at Wellington Cathedral sang about all creatures great and small several dogs joined in with yelps and howls. The annual service at the capital’s central church in honour of the patron saint of animals welcomed a host of pets and their owners on Saturday morning. Continue reading
Posts Tagged ‘St Francis’
St Francis did not say that, or Thomas Merton, or Buddha
Friday, February 19th, 2016
Recently I logged on to Facebook to find this lovely meme from Thomas Merton: “If the you of five years ago doesn’t consider the you of today a heretic, you are not growing spiritually.” It’s a great sentiment, but my malarkey radar went off at the attribution to Merton. This language of “growing spiritually” is awfully modern Read more
Francis the peacemaker
Friday, February 7th, 2014
Much attention has been given to the pope’s concern for the poor, which was reflected in his choice of Francis as his papal name. But as Pope Francis explained to journalists three days after his election, he also chose the name Francis because St. Francis of Assisi is “the man of peace. … He is the man Read more
Pope: Imitate St Francis by stripping away worldliness
Tuesday, October 8th, 2013
On a pilgrimage to Assisi, Pope Francis has called on all Christians and the whole Church to imitate St Francis by embracing poverty and stripping away worldly attitudes. “A Christian cannot coexist with the spirit of the world,” he said, speaking in a room of the Assisi archbishop’s residence where St Francis shed himself of Read more
The life of Pope Francis’ namesake
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
At a time when the Catholic Church was sinking into opulence and pomposity, a powerful religious countercurrent formed in the High Middle Ages: beggar-monks like Francis of Assisi, who preached abstinence and humility. A profile of the religious leader who has become the new pope’s namesake. Editor’s note: After his election to the papacy this Read more
Grounding for Catholic Schools for St Francis Day
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011Catholic schools are being invited to honour St Francis Day with liturgy and reflection remembering our connection with the Earth and all that it sustains. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has provided online resources to help teachers and students celebrate it in early October.
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