Understanding Franciscan SpiritualityPart 1A Relationship with God

Opening PrayerTo the Blessed Trinity

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Side 1 -- O infinite Trinity,We sing of your glory in this prayerBecause of Jesus, your beloved Son, you have raised us to be your own daughters and sons, And in our hearts, you have made your dwelling

All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen

Side 2 -- Eternal beyond time,The fountain of life that never dies,All creation comes form you and also returnsIn a never-ending stream of love.

All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen

All -- We give our praise to you,O most sweet and blessed TrinityWho always flows forth and always flows backIn the calm sea of your own overflowing and dynamic love.

ALL: Through Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father. Amen

Wisdom 13:1-3For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works;

2 but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.

3 If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them.The Revised Standard Version. 1971 (Wis 13:1-3). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Trinitarian prayer Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.

Through Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father

Starting discussion questionsWhy did Jesus become human (Incarnate)

Would Jesus have come if there were no original sin?

A Relationship with GodSpirituality based on ones unique experience of God my particular way of picturing God fed by intimate and personal contact with God

Francis theologian of Gods experienceNot a trained theologianVernacular theologian (in the common peoples language and range of experience)A theology based on lived experience

Francis Trinitarian ManFrancis yearns for relationship with the FatherWants to be loved by the Father as Jesus is lovedSees Jesus as elder brother who leads us to the father

The Father is his goalFrancis understanding of his own unworthiness causes him to desire the loving Father even more

Sees God as Trinity and Unity

Theology of FrancisTrinitarian communion which will become the model for Francis Order - structured as Fraternity to mirror the love within the Trinity

Also based on the Primacy of the Father

The Fathersupreme goodness Unbegotten sourceTotal giving-ness generativity/fecundity

2 modes of emanationIntellect Beloved SonWill Spirit = freedoms choice to Love

Central place within the Trinity is the Father

Francis calls himself brother & refuses to be called father

Place of Father is reserved for God

Christology of FrancisBased in the mystery of trinityJesus is beloved SonDescends from the bosom of the FatherReveals to us the Father and reality that God is Love

IntellectBeloved SonEternal Word Begotten Perfect receiver and reflector of God All God is expressed in the Son Both receives and produces [spiration]Exemplar - makes visible the ideas, thoughts, actions [mind] of the Father

. . if you see me, you see the Father

our elder brother

Imitation of the Son comes from the desire to be loved by the Father as Jesus was lovedJesus becomes our elder brotherShows us a God of humility and povertyA servant God

NamesJesus reveals to us Gods nameABBA

The Father reveals Jesus name

BELOVED SON

Holy Spirit

Only being filled with the Holy Spirit of God, can we:Imitate JesusAnd become one with the Father

Will of God Holy SpiritSpirated from both Father & SonTotal receptivityReceptive not productiveMutual bond between Father & SonThe expression of Gods will LOVE choice made in absolute freedom