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The Deepest Identity of the Secular Franciscan
The deepest identity of a Secular Franciscan
is based on their relationship with Jesus Christ,
God’s gift to the People of God.
We believe that the Church has the mission to bring the spirit
of generosity, forgiveness, reconciliation,
and celebration to all people.
Franciscans are dedicated to do whatever is needed not only
to proclaim the gospel message by words,
but also to make it evident in their lives.
Whether they speak the word or live the word,
they bring the message to the Church and the world.
They go from the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel.
It is never just talk.
It becomes a life of love as Jesus’ life was one of love,
even to death on the cross.
Secular Franciscans, through life itself,
share love with all people and all of creation.
They gently call people to love through the example
of their personal lives as well as their community life in fraternity.
Lester Bach, OFM Cap.
The Franciscan Journey
Holy Mass is powerful
Why is the Holy Mass SO Powerful?
- At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.
- Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
- By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervor.
- By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.
- Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.
- He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.
- By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
- Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass.
- Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
- When you hear Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty God in honor of any particular Saint or Angel, thanking God for the favors bestowed on him, etc., you afford that Saint or Angel a new degree of honor, joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection on yourself.
- Every time you assist at Holy Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the day.
- In holy Mass, in obedience to Christ’s command, “Do this in remembrance of me,” we of the Church offer perfect praise to the heavenly Father, and sanctify ourselves and the world by the power that flows from the priestly office of our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ.
- The benefits of even one holy Mass are infinite and include the whole world. The blood of the new and everlasting covenant was “shed for you and for all.”
- In every Mass that is offered the Church remembers before God “those who take part in this offering, those here present and all your people, and all who seek you with a sincere heart.” In a special way those who have holy Mass offered and those for whom a Mass is offered partake of the grace of the Eucharistic sacrifice.
- The Church which offers Mass each day includes not only the faithful on earth, but the saints in heaven, as well as the suffering souls still awaiting entrance into heaven.
Source: unknown. It is probably from an old pre-Vatican II source, but it is all true and should be preserved. /FSS