Make me a channel of Your Peace (St.Francis)

The Year of the Priest,

800 years since St.Francis founded the Franciscans,

and the Feast of St.Francis:

this is certainly one HUGE feast! :-)

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Look Francis My church is falling to ruins!

Go and rebuild My House!

...these were the words spoken to St.Francis whilst he was praying in the Chapel of St.Damien. Lol at first Francis took them literally - rebuilding the little chapel with his own hands (and God let him because it was a task which made him strong and increased his love for Jesus) but this rebuilding was kind of just the foundation stone ;-)

St.Paul said the WE are the Church of God, that we are "living stones" ...and when, after rebuilding the church it was empty, then St.Francis knew what God meant ...he was to rebuild the people of God ;-) ...and he set out doing just that. Francis, despite ilness and hardships, set out to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus with a heart full of joy and zeal - rebuilding the real Church of God.

Like Francis - especially this year - NOW - we are called to rebuild God's Church! ...to pray for ourselves and our brothers and sisters: Lord in increase our Faith! ...to work to rebuild this Church: with our deeds! ...to proclaim the joy of Jesus humbly but full of zeal - just as St.Francis. May God strengthen us and each one to do so. :-)

These below are two grrrrreat songs: both the prayer of St.Francis. The first is in Italian and i just love it, the second is in English and though a different style, just as lovely. :-)