17th September – The Feast of the Stigmata of our Father Francis of Assisi.
In 1224, Saint Francis went up to Mount Alvernia to pray, seeking solace and peace. And he asked for two graces – to experience the sufferings of Jesus’ Passion and also to experience the burning love that brought him up on the cross. And on 17th September, 3 days after the Feast of the Holy Cross, Francis saw a vision of the Crucified One as a Seraph and after that, saw the 5 wounds of the Crucified One appearing on his own flesh.
His perennial question of “Who are you, O God, and who am I” was thus answered…
Written by Ethan Hsu Vocals by Friar Derrick ofm Arranged, mixed and mastered by Daniel Chai Keyboard by Ethan Hsu Video by Jacob Teo
You are invited to a Zoom Event hosted by Friar Rowland Yeo, OFM.
To celebrate International Day of The Deaf, Friar Rowland, priest for St Francis SignLight Deaf community has invited Deafs from Singapore and Malaysia to meet on zoom.
He will be telling the stories of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony for us to learn about their lives, and how they love God and serve God.
Friar Rowland will also be giving quiz, which he will be giving away Friar Doll and Rosary made by him.
KOTA PADAWAN — Friar Derrick Yap OFM, Custos of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, together with General Visitor, Friar Robert Frazzetta OFM, arrived at St Ann’s Parish for a fraternal visit from 26–30 June 2022.
The visit to Kuching was filled with plenty of activities, beginning with a courtesy call on Archbishop Simon Poh of the Kuching Archdiocese.
They then spent time with the staff of St Ann’s Parish that included a tour around the church. Both friars also met the Franciscan Aspirants of Sarawak, to share their vocation to the religious life.
Joined by Friar David Au, Friar Don Don Ramerez and Friar Aiden Peter, they continued their journey to Sabah to attend the Franciscan Custody Assembly.
The word itinerant comes from the Latin word ‘iter’ which means “way” or “journey”. Such is the life of a friar. The ‘iter’ of a friar involves continuous conversion as he experiences daily a personal encounter with the Lord in everyone and in everything, and this transforms his whole life gradually.
In 1205, while wandering along the cliff of Mount Subasio, Francis stopped at the dilapidated Chapel of San Damiano where he knelt and prayed. The Lord was with him for from the cross, Jesus spoke to Francis, “Francis, repair my church, which as you see is falling into ruins.”
The San Damiano Cross that spoke to Francis.
Francis’ life was changed by this encounter with the Lord. He thought that Jesus wanted him to repair the chapel and he hurried to collect bricks and stones. People thought Francis had gone crazy but their words did not dampen his joy and enthusiasm.
Then, in a church on the feast of Saint Matthias, he had a new revelation on hearing the reading from the Gospel of Matthew: “And going, preach, saying ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ is at hand. Freely have you received, freely give. Take neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses … nor two tunics nor shoes nor a staff … Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves …”. The words cut into his soul like a knife and, taking the words literally, he began the life of an itinerant. This was the beginning of the spirituality of itinerancy.
It dawned on Francis that “repair my church” referred to the people of God whose faith had deteriorated, and Christ had asked him to reinvigorate their faith.
Embracing his mission wholeheartedly, he cast off his shoes, staff and leathern girdle, keeping only his rough woollen tunic, which he tied about him with a rope. This became the habit he gave his friars the following year. The next morning, he went to Assisi and, with moving warmth and sincerity, began to speak to everyone he met about the shortness of life, the need for repentance, and the love of God. His salutation to those he passed on the road was “Our Lord give you peace!”
Francis became an itinerant preacher. Determined to spread the Good News, he moved from place to place zealously proclaiming Jesus and his Gospel, and calling the people to repentance.
Following Christ in the way of Francis, the ‘iter’ of the Friars Minor means that the friars strive to preach the Gospel of the Lord with their lives and with words (if necessary), and they too carry peace in their hearts and offer it to everyone they meet.
