HOLY CROSSINGS VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2019 Newsletter of Holy Cross Fraternity of the Order of Franciscan Seculars

Inside this issue: WHAT WE MISSED February Gathering 1 Portiuncula 2 Our January Gathering was cancelled due to Chapel of Roses 3 bad weather. You are Franciscan 3 missed. Wedding of Francis and 4 Lady Poverty Nomination Form 5

Franciscan Spirituality Attachment 1 from FEBRUARY 19, 2019 GATHERING PLANS www.franciscanseculars.com Spirit of Simplicity 5:00-6:00 PM : Initial Formation 6:00-6:30 PM: Social—Hostess Eileen (Somebody HELP me please) La Pobrecita Attachment 2 6:30-7:00 PM: Business Meeting Review annual events for 2019 Review Annual Report and Fair Share Spiritual Assistant Status Update Prayer Meetings Resume in March Franciscan Inventory Faith Award Fundraiser Raffle Prayer Partner and Host Cards Meadville Catholic Community Request For Help Lito Letter H2O Lent Presentation Lent Franciscan Way of the Cross 7:00-8:00 PM: Ongoing Formation People Plan, God Laughs, Profession and Fair Share Angels Wing It Lady Poverty Regional Chapter of Elections Seeking a Gospel Life Page 2

HOLY CROSSINGS

PORTIUNCULA EXCERPTED FROM “WE WERE WITH ST. FRANCIS” ( AS TOLD BY HIS FIRST COMPANIONS he had made the offering of got a number of the stories his own free will. from Br. Giles) and Br. Ber- St. Francis did not include this nard. agreement in the Rule nor is It is a report of the miracles it in the Constitutions. How- of St. Francis. A great refer- ever, it is in his Testament ence and read. and the whitefish are still be- ing paid to the to this day. About the time of his death, St. Francis declared before the Minister General and other brothers, “I want to dispose and leave in testa- ment to the brothers that the place of St. Mary of the Porti- uncula be always held in the greatest reverence and devo- tion.” Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, home of the Portiuncula The information presented here comes as a result of the The Portiuncula is housed bers daily and their fame request Br. Crescentius, for inside of the Basilica of St. spread throughout the whole the brothers to compile the Mary of the Angels. It was valley of Spoleto. stories of St. Francis. The acquired by St. Francis after The and the Benedic- opening letter of presentation requesting a place from the was written primarily by the Bishop of Assisi and from the tine monks had given the church freely to St. Francis Minister General, Br. Leo, Br. Canons of St. Rufinus. He Rufinus, and Br. Angelus, finally went to the monastery and his brothers without de- manding anything by way of “formerly companions, alt- of St. Benedict on Mt. Subasio hough unworthy, of the most and requested a place from tribute or annual rent. Nev- ertheless, St. Francis as a blessed father Francis, give them. A classic case of perse- due and devout reverence in verance. The Lord willed it good and wise master who The Portiuncula inside the builds upon firm rock—that is the Lord.” Others mentioned that they granted St. Francis are Br. Philip, Br. illuminatus Basilica of Mary of the Angels and his brothers the church of to say, he founded his com- munity upon extreme pov- of Arce, Br. Masseus, Br. John St. Mary of the Portiuncula s (companion of Br. Giles, who the poorest church they had. erty—would send a basket of The abbot told Francis, little fishes, called whitebate, “Brother, we have granted once a year to the abbot. He your request. However, it is did this as a sign of a more our desire that if the Lord perfect humility and poverty should increase your commu- intending that the brothers nity this place would be the would have no place as their head of all the brothers of own property, nor live in any your order.” This condition place which was not subject was agreeable to St. Francis to someone else’s ownership, and thus have no power of and the other brothers. selling or alienating property “Portiuncula” means a small in any way whatsoever. portion with respect to a patrimony, because that name When the brothers brought had been given to the piece of their yearly offering of little land on which it was built in fishes, the monks would give ancient times. As soon as the St. Francis and the brothers a brothers went there to live, jar of oil in acknowledgement The Transitus Chapel in the of St. Francis’s humility, since Inside the Portiuncula the Lord increased their num- Basilica of Mary of the Angels Page 3

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2

BASILICA OF ST. MARY OF THE PORTIUNCULA As you walk toward the Rose you will see the rose garden Chapel you come on a statue through the glass door. Leg- of St. Francis with real live end has it that St. Francis doves. These doves live here threw himself in the roses to and coo constantly. That is a get rid of a temptation. The real dove resting in Francis roses no longer have thorns. hands, I thought they were Further down the hall is the fake, statues. As you walk Chapel of the Roses, a very down the hall, to the right, small cozy chapel.

Chains of St. Peter celebrated on August PORTIUNCULA AND THE FRANCISCAN INDULGENCE first is the day Peter was released from prison and his chains removed. Here is where Francis began his service and have confessed their sins. And I to Christ and His Church. beg Blessed Mary, your Mother, in- This is an extraordinary demonstration of tercessor of man, that she intercede God’s mercy in removing the chains of sin Here Francis founded his Order, re- on behalf of this grace.” from those who ceived Clare as his spiritual daughter, devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the in- and where he died commending this Our Lady at once began to beseech dulgence by completing its requirements. spot above all others to the friars. her son on behalf of Francis. Jesus answered: The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to miss not only for yourself but for the St. Francis had great love and compas- many suffering souls in Purgatory. sion for everyone. “It is a very great thing that which you ask Me; but you are worthy of — Sacramental Confession to be in On a night of July, 1216, Francis was even greater things, Friar Francis, God’s grace (during eight days before or praying in the little church of the Porti- and greater things you will have. So I after.) uncula devoured by love for God and a accept your request, but I want you thirst to save souls. He prayed for the to go to my Vicar, to whom I have forgiveness of sins of mankind. given the power to bind and loose in — Participation in the Holy Mass and Heaven and on earth, to ask him on Eucharist Suddenly a brilliant light shone all my behalf for this indulgence.” around. In great splendor Jesus and — Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Mary appeared in the midst of a dazzling With one of his companions, Francis Our Father and a prayer for the Pope’s cloud surrounded by a multitude of radi- hastened to Pope Honorius III and Intention. ant angels. prostrate implored him to proclaim that every one visiting the church and Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Out of fear and reverence, St. Francis confessing their sins with a contrite Lady of the Angels beginning on the First adored Our Lord prostrate upon the heart would be as pure from all of August to August 2. ground. sin and punishments as he was imme- diately after baptism. The Pope Tell everyone of the magnitude of this granted this petition. This indulgence Then Jesus said to him: Francis you are gift. Once again, we see the unfathoma- has been extended to all parish very zealous for the good of souls. Ask ble Divine Mercy of God. churches throughout the world. me what you want for their salvation. St. Francis was rapt in ecstasy before Jesus. In the words of St. Francis: O my Brothers The date was set from vespers of the and Sisters, I want you all to go to Heaven! first of August until sundown on the When he regained his courage he said: second of August, the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels. It is said that St. h t t p s : / / “Lord, I a miserable sinner beg You to Francis was given this day by Our douglawrence.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/ concede an indulgence to all those who st-francis-of-assisi-and-the-portiuncula- Lord because the Feast of the enter this church, who are truly contrite indulgence/ Wedding of Lady Poverty

Giotto Di Bondone 1266-1337, Basilica of St. Francis of As- sisi

‘It is only through the poor that we can offer anything to God, who also has need of the poor in order to ask any- St. Francis Wedding to Lady thing of us.’ -St. Francis of Assisi Poverty St. Francis of Assisi referred to poverty as “Lady Poverty.” The son of a prosperous merchant, Francis had traded his wealth for a life of poverty so that he could better serve the By Sassetta (Stefano Di Giovanni) 1394- Lord. In describing his ministry to be one with the poor, he 1450 from Sienna used the imagery of a suitor’s pursuit of the woman with whom he wished to spend the rest of his life in marriage. For Francis, that woman was Lady Poverty. The panel is from the back of a polyptych executed for the church of the convent of San The image of Francis and lady Poverty caught the imagina- Francesco at Borgo San Sepolcro. tion of many artists. One of the best known artistic rendi- tions was created by Giotto di Bondone. He painted the This panel, one of the eight smaller scenes marriage of St. Francis and Lady Poverty for the Basilica of accompanying the St Francis in Ecstasy on St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. the back of the double-sided altarpiece, shows the saint stepping forward to place a ring on the finger of Poverty, who stands be- tween Chastity and Obedience, as the three float off for celestial regions. Poverty glances back sweetly toward her bridegroom. The curves of the Virtues harmonize with the shapes of the cusped frame. Between Francis and the Virtues a white road runs across the valley floor to branch into curves among dis- tant ranges that are not just a backdrop; these mountains loom before us, their con- tours rippling in the evening air