Franciscan

Feast of St. Bonaventure

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Jul 14, 2023

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Bonaventure (July 15). In many ways St. Bonaventure is a Saint for the times in which we live - when divisions are ripe and the unity of a nation is being sorely tested. In the years while St. Francis was alive, the Franciscan Order experienced rapid growth – which only accelerated after St. Francis’ death and canonization – each friar and local fraternity trying to discern what it meant to follow Christ in the “tradition” of Francis of Assisi. They came to several...

Peace

by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | May 9, 2023

Today’s Gospel reading continues this past Sunday’s Gospel. John 14 is Jesus’ Farewell Discourse. He tells his disciples that he is going away but that he will always be with them to guide them. The disciples have sorrow and perhaps even despair as they hear of Jesus’ departure so he begins and ends his discourse with a call to faith and trust as he offers them his gift of peace: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (14:1) “Peace I leave with...

St. Anthony of Padua

by Fr. George Corrigan OFM | Jun 13, 2022

Most people know St. Anthony of Padua as the patron saint of lost and stolen articles, but have you ever wondered why he is that particular patron saint? The Patron Saint of Lost Things. The reason for invoking St. Anthony’s help in finding lost or stolen things is traced back to an incident in his own life. As the story goes, Anthony had a book of psalms that was very important to him. You have to remember this was before the age of the printing press and so all books were of great value, and...