Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,

Peace to each of your hearts!

 “Once upon a time,” an ancient story tells, “the master had a visitor who came to inquire about Zen.  But instead of listening, the visitor kept talking about his own concerns and giving his own thoughts.  After a while, the master served tea.  He poured tea into his visitor’s cup until it was full and then he kept on pouring.  Finally the visitor could not bear it any longer.  ‘Don’t you see that my cup is full?’ he said.  ‘It’s not possible to get anymore in.’  “‘Just so,’ the master said, stopping at last.  ‘And like this cup, you are filled with your own ideas.  How can you expect me to give you Zen unless you first empty your cup.?’

The season of Lent gives us the opportunity to engage in the process of emptying our cups and changing our hearts.  St. Francis knew this well.  In Celano’s Life of St. Francis we read, “Changed in mind but not in body, [Francis] ... was anxious to direct his will to God’s.  Thus he retired for a short time from the tumult and business of the world and was anxious to keep Jesus Christ in his inmost self.  Like an experienced merchant, he concealed the pearl he had found from the eyes of mockers and, selling all he had, he tried to buy it secretly....  He acted in such a way that no one would know what was happening within.  Wisely taking the occasion of the good to conceal the better, he consulted God alone about his holy purpose.  He prayed with all his heart that the eternal and true God guide his way and teach him to do [God’s] will.  He endured great suffering in his soul, and was not able to rest until he accomplished in action what he had conceived in his heart.”

As we approach our Regional Chapter of Elections, which we will celebrate together in Easton from March 12, - 14, 2010, we ask the intercession of our holy father St. Francis and seek to follow his example, consulting God alone about his holy purpose for our Region.

Please keep those cards and letters going up for good weather for the Chapter so that our Presider and all who will be coming to Easton will have good traveling weather.

See you in Easton. 

Blessings, all that is good, and much love,

mattie♥

Novena Prayer for the Regional Chapter of Elections

Most High Glorious God, we praise You for Your presence in the world and for the tremendous gift of our Franciscan vocation.

We beseech You to inspire every brother and sister of St. Katharine Drexel Regional Fraternity as we prepare for our Regional Chapter of Elections in March, 2010.

Grant each of us the necessary wisdom to elect those You want to lead and animate us.

Guide and direct us so that we may follow the Gospel and our Rule more closely and be coworkers with You in the rebuilding of the Church and the World.

We ask this through Christ our Lord and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis, St. Clare, and our holy patrons St. Elizabeth and St. Louis.

Amen.

Adapted from Prayer for National Chapter, composed by Anne Mulqueen, SFO