Tag: Franciscan

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Palm Sunday

I began today at the Mountain and it was a lovely day for Palm Sunday indeed. Though we were surrounded by yesterday’s snow it was approaching the mid 40’s in the sun at 11 am as Fr. Dan Riley, OFM pictured in the stoll here invited us to sing “Hosanna.” I thought of the passage from Luke 19:39-40, “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet.” He replied, “I tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!”

Today as we processed toward Holy Peace Chapel and walked over the gravel ground I thought of those words again and how even the stones were crying out. Today begins Holy Week and for me it is my favorite time of the church year. Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!

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A way forward

My sister sent me a Youtube video which reminded me of the work and writings of John Duns Scotus. I like to remind myself that all theology is theory and that no one really knows what is going on. But, first as a person and then later a person being formed in the Franciscan tradition the idea of a sin centered universe was counter intuitive to me.  I have many reasons for saying that, but most of all my own experience dictates that God is love and that love surrounds me and us at all times and does not have to be earned.

Franciscan Spirituality sees the Incarnation as the guarantee of union with God. It is not something to be hoped for or to be looked forward to – it is something, which is happening NOW. God is Love and that Love is our redemption and redemption is not primarily being saved from sin, but is rather the gift of the possibility of openness to the experience of the divine Other in our life. How can it be otherwise when we posit the notion of the divine and human in Jesus? Scotus’s doctrine of the absolute centrality of Love is both timely and profoundly needed by our world. Men and women cry out for an experience of hope in a world which has lost direction – in the teaching of Duns Scotus, Franciscan Spirituality has within its hand that hope-filled experience and the end of that longing. For if God willed the Incarnation from all eternity, then it was always his intention to become part of sinful creation – sin determines the manner of that becoming, but it does not determine the fact that it was going to be….Br. Seamus Mulholland

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The Shack

On Sunday I noticed that Fr. Lou McCormick, OFM was reading a new book. It had a curious title, “The Shack.”  He said, “I want to talk about it at our fraternity meeting.” He gave the book a strong endorsement and said it was very Franciscan in its spirituality. Today, I found myself in Borders Books and near the front of the store I spied, “The Shack.” I took it off the shelf, sat down with a cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee and a snickerdoodle and started to read. I could not put the book down. Four hours later I finished reading it. I never left the store. I bought the book for my wife and the audio-book for a visually impaired friend. I highly recommend you read “The Shack.” It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I don’t want to take anything away from your enjoyment of the book so I won’t disclose the story.

Today was a personal day for an errand that never materialized, but it was no coincidence that I wound up in Borders reading that book. My faith had been shaken lately and this book was exactly what I needed to read. Reading this was like being on retreat. Do yourself a favor and get the book.

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Mountain Madonna


The topic today at our Secular Franciscan meeting was Mary. There was a lot of sharing and discussion among our members. I said that this painting was one of my favorites and Fr. Lou McCormick, OFM our spiritual assistant knew exactly where it was and brought it into our meeting and placed it on the table in front of us. I took this picture after the meeting. I think I’ve written about this painting before, but I find it especially captivating. The picture embodies the way I think of Mary. She was the mother of the Messiah and she is our protector too. She was the ultimate mother. She’s my mother too and my protector too and when I feel troubled as I do sometimes I always turn to her. I don’t think I’ve ever thought of her as a mystic before but I should have. What else could she have been?

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

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Happy Birthday

Today is the two-hundred and thirty-third birthday of the United States Navy.  Much has changed since the 13th of October in 1775 and much has remained the same. The Continental Congress authorized the outfitting of two naval vessels to search our shores and protect us from British warships supplying their troops.  In the two centuries plus that have followed thousands of young men and women have chosen to serve this country as members of the United States Navy.   Just yesterday at brunch while at Mt. Irenaeus I spoke with a physician who had served as a U.S. Navy Medical Officer for ten years. He was at the Mountain with his young family. He was a graduate of Siena College who spent time as a Franciscan Volunteer before going to medical school and after that the U.S. Navy.  He left the Navy for private practice in Greencastle, PA.  My own family has a record of naval service that spans three generations now.

There is within me a longing for the sea and the surf that has been in me all my life. Perhaps I’ll never know where it came from but it is there nonetheless. Whatever its source I salute the United States Navy today on its birthday.

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La Posada



The resting place at the top of the mountain at Mt. Irenaeus. La Posada is one of my favorite places at Mt. Irenaeus although it has been many months since I hiked here. I decided to walk along the Mountain Road following brunch today. It was a great day to be in the woods. Everything really smells like fall and there were lots of chipmunks scurrying in front of me as I walked along the road. This hermitage is the most rustic at Mt. Irenaeus and the furthest from chapel and House of Peace. It was built in 1993 by Steve Andrews and an Amish fellow named Milt. There is a journal inside the hermitage and guests are invited to write a reflection. Today I read Steve Andrews’ reflection and it was very lovely. I’ve spent several nights here on many different occasions. As I walked along the Mountain Road I came to a fork in the trail. As I stood looking I thought of the words of a prayer that hangs in the House of Peace.

Grant me the ability to be alone.
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day.
Among the trees and grasses, among all growing things
And there may I be alone.
And enter into prayer
To talk with the one I belong to.

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Transitus at University Chapel


Tonight I joined other Franciscans at St. Bonaventure University Chapel in both remembering our seraphic father St. Francis and in re-committing ourselves to living out his ideals. It was a lovely liturgy and different from what I expected. This was my first time at the Feast of Transitus. St. Francis died just after sunset on October 3, 1226, at the age of 44.

“Be praised, my Lord, for our sister Bodily Death whom no living man can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are those whom she will find doing your holy will, for to them the second death will do no harm”. –St. Francis of Assisi

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3000 feet above SBU


Yesterday I took this picture with my Kodak camera as I was flying over the campus of St. Bonaventure University. St. Bonaventure is situated next to the Allegany River and is adjacent to the Village of Allegany which is also pictured. I was at 4500 feet which is a little over 3000 feet above ground level. It was a beautiful night to be aloft.

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They sure as hell love each other

A tourist says to his guide, “You have a right to be proud of your town I was especially impressed with the number of churches in it. Surely the people here must love the Lord.” “Well,” replied the cynical guide, “”they may love the Lord, but they sure as hell hate each other.”–taken from “Selected Writings of Anthony De Mello.” by William Dych, SJ.

I’ve written before how much De Mello’s words touch me and this short story is a good one. How often do we hear of religious people full of intolerance for each other. This morning at Mass I witnessed an unusual event. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM who was our celebrant began the Eucharist this morning by inviting us to say our names and then told us that at some point during the liturgy we would break so that some late arriving guests could join us and then we’d sing “Happy Birthday” to one of them.

He began with the sign of the cross and then followed the Introit, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the first reading and the psalm, Following the psalm, Fr. Dan heard the guests arrive and then he walked out of the chapel to greet them. As we sat there waiting for the Mass to resume I thought of how much Fr. Dan’s actions were like those of Jesus. He didn’t wait for them to come to him, but went to them, met them when they were still aways off and brought them into our midst and then we sang Happy Birthday to Maurice. Dan’s actions speak louder than any words he could have spoken this morning. He was Christ to us and to the late arriving guests. The love in the chapel was palpable this morning and it touched us all.

The guest was St. Bonaventure University basketball player, Maurice Thomas, and his family. We all got to meet Maurice and his family and we all experienced love first hand. There was much love there this morning and its an event I won’t soon forget.

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Garden at Mt. Irenaeus

Garden at Mt. Irenaeus

Tonight after work I drove nearly thirty miles to be part of a gathering of Partners in MInistry at Mt. Irenaeus. The mountain as we call it is one of my favorite spots. I almost blew this meeting off. In fact it was only Monday that I decided to come. I got there about 4:15, which was about forty-five minutes after the meeting had started. Fr. Dan asked me to reflect on a handout that included the Mountain’s mission and some thoughts of about the mission statement. As I sat and listened to the others share what this place and its form of ministry mean to them, I thought of my own path here. What was there about this place that continues to invite me back.

The garden is central to what brings me back here time and again and that is hospitality. At Mt. Irenaeus all are truly welcome. Christians of all stripes, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists, all are welcome here. No one is asked to accept a particular theology. There is no proselytizing. Words and thoughts are shared, but central to it all is an overwhelming feeling of peace and hospitality. I think it’s what Jesus is really about.

The Eucharist followed our time of sharing and then it was down to the House for dinner. Each of us played a part in its preparation and mine was to help Br. Kevin Kriso, OFM collect lettuce, peas and beans from the garden. I joined two other guests and Br. Kevin and we gathered just enough for dinner. Tonight we all enjoyed a simple dinner and the company of many friends. Our meal was completed by a sumptuous blueberry dessert prepared by Fr. Dan Hurley, OFM. Dan Hurley is 88 years young and though he can no longer see well, he is able to contribute insight and culinary delights.