17 Monday Aug 2026
Posted in contemplation, poetry, silence
In the hollows of quiet places
we may meet,
the quiet places where is neither
moon nor sun,
but only the light of amber and
pale gold
that comes from the Hills of
the Heart.
~ Fiona MacLeod
17 Monday Aug 2026
Tags
This letter from Padre Pio found its way into my inbox, which (as is so often the case) came at a time when I needed a reminder of God’s infinite love for us, and our inborn need to love Him. If I read him correctly, Padre Pio says that God love fills us because God Himself dwells within us, and our yearning to love Him is evidence of that His indwelling love.
There’s a good deal to ponder here, but I was particularly drawn to his asking, “How is it possible that a soul that has…dedicated to divine love…may one day depart this world dry, cold, without longing for God? How is it possible, I say, that this soul may leave this world with the mark of eternal damnation: Does it not seem a contraction to you?”*
I wonder how different things would be if we gave up worrying about being ‘worthy’ and just accepted that God’s love has no strings attached. God asks nothing in return for that gift, for true gifts are freely given, and God joys in our being channels of His love into the world.
27 Monday Jul 2026
Posted in News
This meeting focused on completing a formation series about the San Damiano crucifix (we’ve been using The San Damiano Crucifix: History, Iconography, and Spiritual Legacy, by Jeffrey Campbell). We discussed our reflections on the book & shared insights about how the crucifix represents joy rather than defeat, the importance of bearing witness to Christ’s presence, and the challenge of living out our faith in both visible and hidden ways. We also wondered about what we might hear if Christ spoke to us from the crucifix as he did to Francis; our responses emphasized love, perseverance, and continued faith journey.
We also discussed potential future topics for formation, including Duns Scotus and papal encyclicals, and we considered whether to continue maintaining [this] Facebook page for the fraternity & others interested in the Order.
We ended the meeting by sharing personal prayer requests, including prayers for family members and various health concerns.
12 Sunday Jul 2026
Posted in Meeting Dates and Times
Our July meeting will be on the 12th of the month.
Since this is the first post in a while, let me add that we’re meeting in the church proper at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Bedford. Come to the side entrance; if the door is locked, just knock and we’ll open it.
We have been pleased to welcome Deacon Jim Rice to our recent fraternity meetings. Deacon Jim is considering joining the fraternity as a spiritual director, a position that has been open for quite a while.
Mike has been leading us in looking more closely at the San Damiano crucifix the past couple of months. It was from this crucifix in the small San Damiano chapel outside the walls of Assisi that St. Francis heard Christ’s voice charging him with “rebuild[ing] my church.” It is a beautiful Byzantine cross full of allegorical figures that has become a symbol of the Franciscan orders, and certainly worth studying.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to send me an email.
Andy