Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum EN

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updated 11:54 AM UTC, Mar 20, 2024

Retreat of the Four Franciscan Orders

From April 3-9, 2022, the General Ministers of the four Franciscan Orders with their Councils met in La Verna for a week of retreat, having as preachers, Br. Antonio Ramina OFMConv and Br. Francesco Ruffato OFM. The first spoke of fraternity and mission and the second of the prayer of St. Francis. The themes helped the participants along a path of meditation and personal prayer, utilizing the spaces reserved for meditation.

Throughout the week, our superiors general with their councils prayed together in the same place where our Seraphic Father Francis received the Sacred Stigmata, associating himself fully with the crucified Christ; therefore, this place where Francis gave himself to being sealed with the image of Christ in his body was, for a week, the place of their own experience of intense prayer and of communion with one another, with God and with the entire Franciscan family throughout the world. 

This retreat made by the four General Councils was a witness to the true communion shared among the branches of the First Order of St. Francis. It was also a strong sign of unity during our current times marked by so much division and conflict. This signifies that the Order, throughout the course of history, has not faltered by division, but has indeed prospered according to God’s plan.

Photo gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzJQRr

Last modified on Wednesday, 13 April 2022 08:22