A feast to focus on living by honouring the dead

Change of heart before laws

Prayer with believers to hear our name

Prayer and dialogue for peace

Seed of peace in non violent hope

Prepared for shame as step to life

Journey to service and peace

Using time to be fruitful

Tension between self service and love

Passion for service to the other

The pack advice for waiting and living well

The timeline expands through loving service

Decision to serve and voting choice

Sitting as servants in the Kingdom

Choosing to witness faith

See me and my justification

Sola and opened by contemplation and charity

Push beyond rules to experience mercy

Self serving lies lead away from life

Thanksgiving and Falling Upward

Difficult decisions for disciples

Focus on transcendent relationship today

The habits which bring drought

We persist and receive Spirit

Anger and the right and good treatment of enemies

Martha Mary and My way

Saint for all seasons

He invites those who suffer to be family

Reflection on Contemplation and Contrast in Assisi

Italy Contrasts Contemplation

An image which informs the contrast contemplation on Italy is one of a North American Church with all of the newness and up to the times design and social interaction as a child of the Churches of Italy. The child may need to go home and begin to think about and appropriate the features of the Parent Church which have provided insight into the transcendent and immanent nature of God for centuries of believers.

Assisi is earthy and the land, the smells and the atmosphere transmit a place which is in contrast to the hustle and bustle and time of the modern world. Timelessness is a sense which emanates from the environment.

The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi and Basilica di Santa Chiara dominate the skyline of Assisi yet the little Church of Porziuncola in the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli speaks of the nature of Saint Francis and speaks of qualities of his life which have inspired millions.

Peacefulness is the ambiance of the land where the author of the “peace prayer” centered his vocation. Beauty in land, art and architecture nourishes an inner hunger for meaningful expression and interpretation of that which is ultimately uninterpretable.

The role of the body in our relationship with God has been under represented in the Church in North America. The interplay with the Sacred in Assisi is physical. Eyes, ears, nose and tongue take in the sensual experience. The feet and muscles respond to the hills. The body core perspires in the sun and feels real comfort and consolation within the places of worship, contemplation and adoration. Francis walked to encounter Christ in people, places, animals and nature. Our footsteps offer some opportunities to connect with the Saint who renounced self to serve God and others.

Angry returns blessing

Childlike trust and an angelic guide

Prayer and peace change lives