My heart in my mouth I set off to meet Wolf. He filled me with fear. He was Other. I walked dark into the forest, so deeply looking That at first I failed to see this Brother. He appeared to be slinking around a tree. In shadow, he looked all grey and black. His eyes [...]
Archive for the ‘St Francis of Assisi’ Category
22 Oct
Christian power: an oxymoron?
Yesterday the residents’ association of our village held elections. There was quite a tussle over the position of Chairman of the Social Committee, with arguments about the Constitution and fights about procedure. The sub-text was reasonably easy to discern: two strong people clashing and both leading with their shadows! This made me reflect on the [...]
13 Oct
Why Should Franciscans be interested in poetry?
FRANCISCANS DISCOVER HOPKINS 1. SHOULD FRANCISCANS BE INTERESTED IN POETRY? • St Francis was influenced by the troubadours. His interest in troubadours probably started on journeys to France as a child. The troubadours: o Sang in Italian or Provençal (French) and not Latin. o Broke convention by singing love songs to ladies beyond their status. [...]
2 Oct
Do Franciscans Bless Animals
Before I start criticising the practice of blessing animals, let me confess that I have blessed animals, and would do so again. In fact for a couple of years, Tom Sutton of Subiaco Parish in Perth invited me, along with other Franciscans and other priests to a great outdoor animal blessing. There is a picture [...]
