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The Five Lents of Francis
The early sources about the life of Francis mention five “Lents”. A Lent to prepare for Easter and one for Christmas For 40 days before Easter, Francis observed the “Great Lent”, what we know as Lent today. Francis observed a similar period of 40 days of fasting and...
Learning from Blessed Gabriele Allegra
On the day of our Custody’s autonomy, 25 April 2023, OFM Minister General Friar Massimo Fusarelli presented me with a relic of Blessed Gabriele Allegra, who was named as the copatron of our Custody, together with St Anthony of Padua. It was such a precious gift. This...
Plenary Indulgence on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the “Nativity scene at Greccio”
From the 8th December 2023 till the 2nd February 2024 in every Franciscan church On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the "Nativity scene of Greccio", the Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who, from 8 December 2023...
‘Regula Bullata’: Franciscans celebrate 800 years of evangelical creativity
As the Franciscan family celebrates the 800th anniversary of the Rule of St. Francis on 29 November, Fr. Luke Gregory of the Custody of the Holy Land reflects on the evangelical creativity and freshness that the ‘Regula Bullata’ represents for the entire Church. In...
Pope encourages Franciscans to live out their charism in the world
As the Franciscan Family marks the 8th Centenary of the confirmation of the Rule of St. Francis, on 29 November 1223, Pope Francis invites Franciscan friars and sisters to renew their vocation of bringing the Gospel of poverty and fraternity to today’s world. Pope...
Incarnational Spirituality
"Why did God become man?” This soul-searching question has occupied the hearts of many Christians through the ages, including saints such as Francis of Assisi. God taking human flesh – the incarnation (carne = flesh) – is a mystery calling us to deeper reflection, to...
Shine, listen, be unafraid
World Youth Day may be an event for young people, but Pope Francis’ final message to the pilgrims at the closing mass on 6 August 2023 is one that all of us can take to heart. “What will we take back with us as we resume our daily lives?” he asked the pilgrims. He...
Co-Patrons of the Custody
God sends us companions on our spiritual journey, for us as individuals and for us as an organisation or ministry. For our Custody, St Anthony has been our patron saint from the beginning. Why St Anthony you might ask? Well, it goes back to 1957 when Friar Vergil...
Touching the lives of the poor with St Anthony’s Touch
Have you wondered why St Anthony is associated with bread? It is the power of his intercession. One legend is that when a boy drowned near the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, his mother in her desperation called out to her beloved saint to restore her son’s life,...