Prayers from Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi Feast Day is coming October 4. Here is a collection of links to prayers from Saint Francis posted on the Prayer & Creeds blog. Just click on the prayer.

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace ~

Señor, Hazme un Instrumento de Tu Paz

A Benediction of Saint Francis

Prayer for Doing God’s Will

Prayer for a Rich Spiritual Life

Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer

Prayer of Thanksgiving

First Five Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style

In my ongoing desire this year is to deepen stability and my call to place, I have been sharing a list of favorite things I love about life in Buenos Aires. This is a result of my January reflection on “Attentiveness and Call to Place,” posted on This Ignatian Life blog. You can read the reflection here: http://ignatianlife.org/attentiveness-and-call-to-place/.

I hope to identify my top ten (in no particular order) by the end of the year. I have some catching up to do. But for now, here are my First Five…click below.

#1 – Fiestas! 
#2 – Walking in the City!
#3 – Mate!
#4 – My Hood!
#5 – My Community of Faith!

Living in the Present Moment

“Let us strive to make the present moment beautiful.” 

~ Saint Francis de Sales

“In the past, we would speak of ‘centering’ as the ‘sacrament of the present moment.’ In truth, we know that that we only have today, the present moment, the now; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is not yet here. The exact moment is holy and uniquely beautiful. Keeping alive the awareness and wonder of the present moment in the continuous flow of time, and throughout all its cycles, enhances our daily lives. We know that the moment will never be recaptured again, but we will keep within us its lovely memory. To live fully and deeply each day is to participate consciously in the mystery and succession of each present moment. The end result will be a positive one, shaped by the wonder, the beauty, and the holiness of each part of the day.”

Taken from: Blessing of the Daily: A Monastic Prayer Book by Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourette (September 7 entry)

Listening to Saint Francis this 9/11 Anniversary

(The oldest known icon of St Francis of Assisi, ca. 1230 (Church of San Fransesco, Pescia)

The community I serve among, Word Made Flesh, is considered part of the New Friar’s mission movement. Two books, written and edited by Scott Bessenecker, share the history, background, and distinctives of the New Friars, if you want to read more.
- The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World's Poor (2006) 
- Living Mission: The Vision and Voices of New Friars (2010)

Last week I shared my desire to dive back into the life of Saint Francis and Franciscan spirituality in preparation for Saint Francis’ Feast Day on October 4. This week I have done just that. It turns out it was perfect timing to listen and learn from Saint Francis and Franciscan spirituality to grow in my perspective on this 10th anniversary of 9/11. Saint Francis was about peacemaking and the Franciscans today continue to live these principles of peace. My focus on St. Francis this week began with the below Franciscan responses and reflections in light of this 9/11 anniversary.
- American Franciscan Response to Anniversary of 9/11
- Franciscan Voices on 9/11 [Kindle Edition]

I found these words from Patricia Normile, S.F.O. in her contribution to the Franciscan Voices on 9/11 book (“Making Peace a Verb”) to sum up well the posture and priority of peace we learn from Saint Francis...
“I now tend to think of peace as a verb rather than a noun. It moves, it empowers, it inspires, it sacrifices, it challenges. Peace urges us to reach beyond our own comfort, beyond our security, beyond our righteousness, to gain understanding of the “others” in our world. Peace asks us to respect their “otherness.” Peace refuses to allow us to remain in one place too long; it encourages us to move toward greater understanding. Peace seeks to discover new realms in need of healing in ourselves, our country, our world.”

Here are some other Saint Francis resources I have discovered and plan to read and utilize this month ahead. More to come!
- Video – “Who Cares About the Saints? (St. Francis)” featuring Fr. Jim Martin , S.J.
- The St. Francis Prayer Book: A Guide to Deepen Your Spiritual Life by Jon Sweeny
- The Road To Assisi: The Essential Biography of St. Francis by Paul Sabatier (Edited by Jon Sweeny)

Suggestions for Sabbath-Living (Everyday)

This afternoon while searching for a file on my computer, I stumbled upon this list of Sabbath-living suggestions in a newsletter from the Henri Nouwen Society (Winter 2008). Good reminders to make space for Sabbath rest throughout the week.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. 

 ~ Psalm 23 

• Light candles -at dinner, when you read or during a bath. Say a blessing as you light it and let it remind you of the Holy Spirit’s presence and comfort.
• Set aside thirty minutes each day for Sabbath. Do something restful or nourishing during this time--pray, read scripture or other sacred texts, walk outdoors, nap, or enjoy a favorite drink. Spend this time in a place of beauty.
• Spend a few moments outside each day just looking and noticing God’s creation.
• Don’t answer the phone between 5 and 8pm.
• When you wake up in the morning, give yourself time to review your dreams before getting out of bed.
• Turn off the radio and the phone when driving your car.
• Take a monthly retreat day at a local monastery or retreat center.
• Set aside one evening a week to have a Sabbath meal. Invite friends over. Make the food yourself. Light candles. Say a prayer of blessing and gratitude. Make it a joyful time of conversation and good food.
• Declare a “silent hour” at some point during the day.  Spend the time in silence alone, or with others, reading, praying, or doing other creative activities.
• Set designated evenings as “television-free.”
• Consecrate one day a week as a Sabbath day. Spend the day resting, playing, praying and enjoying your family. Turn off the TV and other entertainment devices. Don’t work or run errands. Nap. Take walks. Eat good food. Read. Spend time with friends.

Dear God, Speak gently in my silence. When the loud noises of my surroundings and the loud inner noises of my fears keep pulling me away from you, help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to hear you. Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying “Come to me, you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest . . . for I am gentle and humble of heart.” Let that loving voice be my guide. Amen
~ Henri J. M. Nouwen, With Open Hands

Taken from: Henri Nouwen Society Newsletter (Winter 2008)
http://www.henrinouwen.org/

Preparing for Saint Francis Feast Day ~ October 4

If you have followed my blog at all these past five years you know that Ignatian and Benedictine spiritualities have recently played a significant role in my formation. Ignatian spirituality has formed and shaped my understanding of discernment and vocation. It has taught me to be attentive. Benedictine spirituality has encouraged me to deepen stability and call to place, as well as cultivate a rhythm of life.

The month I plan to revisit Franciscan spirituality. Our global Word Made Flesh community has been influenced and shaped by the life and spirituality of Saint Francis. When staff are commissioned to begin our service with WMF, we receive a San Damiano cross necklace as a symbol of our commitment. This year our WMF Argentina has decided to observe the Feast Day of Saint Francis on October 4. In preparation for this day, I am looking for recommendations on books, articles and resources on St. Francis and Franciscan spirituality.

Can you help me out? Please post any recommendations in comments or send me an email! 

Stay tuned for more reflections on Saint Francis these weeks ahead.

Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style (#5 – My Community of Faith!)

My ongoing desire this year is to deepen stability and my call to place. One way I am doing this is by blogging my favorite things in Buenos Aires. I hope to identify my top ten (in no particular order) by the end of the year. Looks like I have some catching up to do…so here is #5!

This past week I have found myself reflecting on community and friendship. My pastor here in Buenos Aires, Juan Jose Barreda, recently wrote a reflection on friendship that is now posted on our WMF website here…"Friendship Along the Way.” This morning I watched another new video from Jean Vanier on community here…“Loved As You Are.” 

Both of these reflections reminded me how grateful I am for my church community, my community of faith here in Buenos Aires! I have attended Iglesia Evangelica Bautista Constitucion since my arrival to Argentina almost 3 ½ years ago. Since then the community has become family for me here. They partner with our WMF community in many valuable ways. They warmly welcome our short-term teams, our family and friends who come to visit with open arms (along with some besitos and abrazos). They have accompanied me with such love and care this past year, as I have been away from my mom during her cancer recovery and treatments.

The community continues to demonstrate how to welcome one another, to love one another, to accompany one another, to offer hospitality to one another and those who are poor, to grieve together, to celebrate together, to grow and learn together…and so much more! I am thankful for the many ways I have grown and all I have learned from my friends in my community of faith. When I made my decision to renew my commitment to WMF Argentina, having a church community here that I love was a significant part of my decision.

This year I have taken some steps to get more involved in the church community. I am teaching the preschool Sunday school class every Sunday (los chiquitos!). I also am helping out with various children’s special activities. Last month I began attending a neighborhood home fellowship group just a few blocks from my apartment. It has been good to connect weekly with this group of neighbors, learn and share in some Bible reflections, and, of course, share some mate (see #3 on my list below)!

This month ahead I am looking forward to the annual all-church retreat and the annual epic costume party to welcome spring! Good times!

Gracias por todo, hermanas y hermanos!

To check out favorite things 1, 2, 3 & 4 click below.
#1 – Fiestas! 
#2 – Walking in the City!
#3 – Mate!
#4 – My Hood!

News Alert...Spanish beginning to influence my English!

Recently, I have noticed a few phrases that I say in English a lot more than I ever used to before moving to Argentina. I guess the common use of these phrases in Spanish has impacted my English. Here are just a few examples...
- I imagine that…
- The truth is…
- Come!
- Tell me!

I will have really arrived when I start saying….
- I have cold or I have hot
- I have 42 years
- I call myself, David

I imagine that there are many others, but the truth is I can’t think of any right now. Spanish speakers, you know others?? Tell me!

Stay tuned!

"Christ is risen, my joy"

"It is said of Saint Seraphim of Sarov that he addressed each person he met with the salutation, 'Christ is risen my joy.' He called each and everyone 'my joy' because he saw in them the work of God, the image of the invisible God. This is another saint who has much to teach us."

 Taken from: Blessings of the Daily: A Monastic Book of Days by Brother Victor-Antoine d' Avila-Latourette (September 2 entry)