A Special June Day

Yesterday was pretty special for a couple of reasons.  First, it was our wedding anniversary, and we started the day off right with coffee and fresh banana bread at the Grand Re-Opening of the Relax Cafe in our neighbourhood. The former owners closed down and moved away a few months ago, leaving a black hole in the community. It was with great joy a few weeks ago that we noticed a sign announcing that new owners were going to bring our favorite walking destination back to life.  What a great anniversary gift!

But we received an even greater gift in the afternoon.  Together with thirteen other “Inquirers”, we were admitted into the Secular Franciscan Order during a beautiful Mass at St. Luke’s Church.  After this past year of study, prayer, meeting new friends and learning more about the lives and spirituality of St. Francis and St. Clare, we now begin our time of formation as “Candidates”. 

The day was special for one more reason: it happened to be the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, when we focus on God’s new and definitive covenant with His people through Jesus, and His sacrifice on the Cross. How fitting that as we made our pledge at the front of the church, we were also celebrating God’s ongoing pledge of love and mercy to us through the gift of Holy Communion. 

It was a beautiful moment when the fifteen of us spoke, in unison, these words of promise and hope:

“We here ask to enter the fraternity of the Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, so that we may live more faithfully and intensely the faith and dedication of our baptism by following Jesus Christ according to the teaching and example of St. Francis of Assisi.”

And so, the next chapter of our journey begins.  Alleluia!