Adjustments

As perhaps you noticed, this blog disappeared for a couple of days, along with my Twitter account. I just needed that little bit of space in my ongoing project--or perhaps the ongoing project of grace!--of clarifying for myself my voice, who I am online, what this blog is for me and how I use it. Writing, after all, is a spiritual practice not to be taken lightly. As Thomas Merton put it:

“If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a little while. If you write for yourself, you can read what you yourself have written and after ten minutes you will be so disgusted that you will wish that you were dead.”

That's from New Seeds of Contemplation. It's amazing what an influence that book has had on me over the years. Right now I'm reading an Italian translation; since it's a text I know pretty well, it's good practice.

So, coming back from a couple days of retreat into the void, I've made a couple of adjustments. First, I've marked the occasion with a new layout. The old template was one I had been using since I started this blog over six years ago, which was before Blogger was part of Google. Not everything on the template was working rightly any longer, and it was also full of my amateurish efforts at hand-rolling some of the HTML. (In those days there wasn't yet the widget-based layout editor we have now.) I've edited out some old posts of which I've repented. I've also reduced the lists of blog on the sidebar to one. When I started this blog, I knew of only a few other blogs by Franciscans, so I thought it would be right and just to start a particularly Franciscan blogroll. At this point I couldn't even read all of the blogs by my Capuchin confreres, let alone all the Franciscans who are out there bringing some pax et bonum to the web. So now there's just one list for everyone: old and new blogging friends, bloggers I just find interesting, and those I feel like it's only right to link out of filial piety or because of visitors sent.

The licensing information as well as the disclaimer are unchanged, and both still appear all the way at the bottom.

Franciscan Blogroll

Go ahead and check out Br. Jack's Preaching Ministry.

OFM CAP FTW

That's what I say, having heard the great news today of archbishop Charles Chaput being appointed to Philadelphia, I riff on my favorite title for a Franciscan blog.

Condolences to the church of Denver, and the beginnings of prayers for a new bishop for you.

At Chapter

Several of the brothers have asked me if I have posted to the blog during these days of being away here at our provincial chapter. I haven't, but I thought I would put up this little post today just to check in.

It's good to see all the brothers. Now that I've made my presentation on the revision of our statutes on Masses for the dead, I feel more relaxed.

Today is our last day, which means the elections. So pray for us in our discernment as we go through the various ballots this morning, electing a Provincial Minister and four definitors to make up his council.

Various other Capuchin bloggers are with me here: The always edifying and hilarious Mark of Just a Brother, who is presiding over the Chapter, the ever-encouraging Matts of New Sandals and Be Thou My Vision, and one of my favorite human beings, Richard of A Capuchin Journey. Check them out!

Franciscan Blogroll

Br. Vito points out two newly appeared blogs by young men discerning the life of a Capuchin Franciscan friar. Check out The Franciscan Journey and The Summons: A Capuchin Postulant's Journey.

Franciscan Blogroll

Check out New Sandals. Click and spike brother's stats!

Also, I have removed from the roll a couple of apparently dormant blogs. If you become active again, let me know!

Feast of St. Francis Blog Roundup

The feast of St. Francis is always celebrated well here in the blogosphere. Be sure to check it out as...

Just a Brother invites us to take the St. Francis pledge.

Friar Rex gives us a great reflection from Richard Rohr.

Fr. Z presents some great video and chant from the Friars of the Immaculate.

Paul offers us a hymn to St. Francis.

Running to Paradise has a great testimony on the Francis and conversion.

Postulant Matt reflects on Francis's feast day and authenticity.

Lee sends feast day wishes.

Fr. Phil offers a homily for the feast day.

Sister Katy riffs on the classic Franciscan parable of "True and Perfect Joy."

Chiara presents the prayer before the crucifix.

May the Lord give you peace!

Feast of St. Clare Blog Roundup

The blogosphere is alive with posts for the feast of St. Clare today. Here are some to check out:

View from the Choir has posted Clare's beautiful letter to Ermentrude of Bruges.

Portiuncula has a picture of Clare's mantle and the collect for the day.

A Capuchin Journey has a great quote from Clare's correspondence with Agnes of Prague.

Communio has a prayer, a quote, and some good links.

Be Thou my Vision has a reflection on Clare, humility, and trust.

And we shall not forget a whole blog dedicated to Clare's spirit and inspiration, Canticle of Chiara.

Phishing The Hierarchy

Would you be willing to become a bishop? Please give me your bank account information. Check out the whole story over on Just a Brother.

Franciscan Blogroll

It's not the ordinary way of getting onto the Franciscan Blogroll, but if you write a blog and then become a Franciscan, that's what happens. Check out Be Thou My Vision.

Franciscan Blogroll

Go ahead and check out Br. Ernie.

Franciscan Blogroll

Check out the fascinating and erudite Breathing with Both Lungs.

Franciscan Blogroll

Today I have not one, but two additions to the Franciscan Blogroll. Check out For Narnia and A Capuchin Journey.

Franciscan Blogroll

Check out Fr. Herald as he blogs on mission in Sudan. He is a brother of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who are originally a daughter community of my own.

Franciscan Blogroll

Check out Little Portion Hermitage, a blog by Friar Rex, a canonical hermit of the diocese of Portland, Maine. What's a canonical hermit? Check out the Canon Law:

Can. 603 §1. In addition to institutes of consecrated life, the Church recognizes the eremitic or anchoritic life by which the Christian faithful devote their life to the praise of God and the salvation of the world through a stricter withdrawal from the world, the silence of solitude, and assiduous prayer and penance.
§2. A hermit is recognized by law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond, and observes a proper program of living under his direction.

One of my favorite things about the Franciscan life is that it is expressed in every state of life: secular and religious, lay and cleric, and every shade and combination among them.

Fruit

Check out this beautiful post from Brother Chris.

Franciscan Blogroll

For some beautiful and rich reflections, check out Prophetic Fraternal Franciscan.

Franciscan Blogroll

Check out Under the Hood of a Capuchin Friar for a blogging glimpse into the life of Franciscan novitiate. Brother has a lot of pictures too!

Franciscan Blogroll

Check out Perfect Joy, a blog by a brother of the SFO. He has a number of fine reflections that are very Franciscan by both content and orientation.

Franciscan Blogroll

For those who read or blog in Spanish, check out La Parroquia Maria Madre del Buen Pastor.