1. A Reflection on the Spirituality of St Francis today

2. Holy Spirit Fraternity Secular Franciscan Order 19 September 2010

4. St Francis of Assisi - Born 1182 - Baptised John - Father renames him Francesco - Goes to war with Perugia - Taken prisoner for a year - Recovers at home for a year

5. - Returns to Assisi after defending the Holy Roman Empire - In prayer in the Church of San Damiano - ‘Go and rebuild my house.’

6. - More than bricks and mortar - Francis rebuilds the Church

7. -Francis embraces a man with leprosy - Jesus in the poor - God’s living stones

8. -Francis forms a brotherhood. -The Church approves. His community preaches and works for their daily bread.

9. - Clare forms a community. - They receive San Damiano - They pray and minister to the sick.

10. -Francis preaches conversion and forgiveness across Europe - He makes peace with the Sultan of Egypt -He embraces a ravenous wolf

11. -Francis sees Jesus in creation - He starts the Christmas crib with live animals - He receives the stigmata – the wounds of Christ.

12. -The Canticle of the Creatures witnesses to the peace and joy of love and forgiveness. - Francis welcomes Sister Death.

13. -Francis’s way works through brothers, sisters, priests, and lay Franciscans. -St Francis’s feast day is October 4. - Pope John Paul named St Francis patron saint of ecology.