We were so blessed to have an all day retreat for Lent at Alba House for our March meeting.
The day was full of friendship and Lenten observances like mass with Father Kevin (our Joanne’s son), confession, prayer time in the chapel and a wonderful luncheon. We also were blessed with a talk by Brother Tom (his eminence) about our penitential role as secular Franciscans. We went back to the early church and learned how penance was done. Spoiler alert, we would not have liked to experience it as it involved standing before the whole community and admitting our wrong doing with yearly plus long public penances. Penitent groups would do the penance with the sinner. We learned how reconciliation changed through the centuries.
As Secular Franciscans we try to fill the penitential vacuum.
We had a lovely guided meditation with Joanne leading us through the basilica in our imaginations to see St Francis of Assisi preach. This led to a one on one meeting for each of us with both St Francis and the presence of Jesus in the tabernacle.
Also a special guest Sr Margaret Mary from the Franciscan sisters introduced herself to us and was so happy we are nearby for her to visit with and talk to about St Claire and her research.
We left fulfilled and ready to serve the Lord this lent and always. Pax et bonum.
