Prayer

Franciscan prayer is about coming to know Jesus incarnate in our world today. St. Francis balanced his life of love and service to those in his time with countless hours of prayer and contemplation to come to know Christ more intimately in the Gospel, in himself and in the world around him. He recognized the presence of God in all of creation but especially in those lesser brothers and sisters, so much so that he gave up all he had to become like them, live among them and serve them. The Lord gifted Francis with a love for lepers whom he previously, like most others of his time, had despised. To Francis, Perfect Joy was to endure all hardships, even if inflicted by those he loved, patiently and joyfully, identifying them with the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he modeled his life and ministry after. Francis is referred to as the "Mirror of Perfection" because he withdrew from the world to spend time in contemplative union with God and then re-entered the world to reflect the love and image of the One he had become united with through prayer. Francis' life was a balance of deep prayer and untiring action, serving those most in need of God's love. Like Francis, "Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to gospel. " article 4, Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. Also like Francis, our rule of life calls us to a deep life of prayer because "As Jesus was the true worshipper of the Father, so let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do. " article 8, Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. The Franciscan prayer life opens the eyes of the soul to the presence of God all around us. This moves us to service out of love for God and his creation and reverence to the gifts He gives us, especially His presence in the Eucharist. The rule of life sums this up best by stating that "Secular Franciscans, therefore, should seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in liturgical activity. The faith of St. Francis, who often said, "I see nothing bodily of the Most High Son of God in this world except His most holy body and blood," should be the inspiration and pattern of their Eucharistic life." article 5, Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order.