Greccio and the First Crib – A Christmas Reflection
Published on: 30 December, 2016
By: David Torkington
When the Crusaders opened up the Holy Land to pilgrims, they set the scene for a new dawn in Christian Spirituality in the twelfth century.
St Francis of Assisi – Part 6 – The Poverello
Published on: 1 December, 2016
By: David Torkington
After Pope Innocent III had approved the rule of life that St Francis had presented to him, the little band of Brothers set out for home.
St Francis of Assisi – Part 5 – The Founder
Published on: 13 November, 2016
By: David Torkington
St Bonaventure described God’s love as A shaft of light that flashes out from the divine darkness, that suddenly enables a person to see the truth that they had never seen before.
St Francis of Assisi – Part 4 – The Preacher
Published on: 3 November, 2016
By: David Torkington
It was in the church of St Mary of the Angels that a momentous event took place in the life of St Francis.
St Francis of Assisi – Part 3 – The Hermit
Published on: 26 October, 2016
By: David Torkington
After the party when St Francis had a brief mystical experience, he began to visit churches and places of solitude where he could prayer. Firstly he went with a friend, and then on his own. He was tempted to believe that all his exertions were a waste of time. Then one day everything changed. Whenever…
St Francis of Assisi – Part 2 – The Soldier
Published on: 15 October, 2016
By: David Torkington
Pietro Bernadone, the father of St Francis, was proud of his son’s business skills. He was proud too that he was popular with his peers. He looked on with admiration to see the sons of the local aristocracy vying for his friendship and favour along with the other ‘lager louts’ of his day. Father and…
St Francis of Assisi – Part 1 – The Second Christ
Published on: 3 October, 2016
By: David Torkington
For the feast day of St Francis on the 4 October, I am beginning a series of blogs on the life of St Francis of Assisi.
From Bethlehem with Love
Published on: 25 December, 2015
By: David Torkington
The year was 1220, the place was Egypt, shortly after the siege of Damietta. A small nondescript looking man stood before the Sultan arrayed in all his regal finery.
The WholeWorld is a Friary
Published on: 4 October, 2015
By: David Torkington
When St Francis of Assisi had rebuilt a tumbledown little church given to him by the Benedictines, he called it St Mary of the Angels.
Feast of St Francis of Assisi 4 October 2014
Published on: 4 October, 2014
By: David Torkington
The very moment a person is sufficiently purified of the selfishness that keeps the pure unadulterated love of God out then that love comes flooding in instantly, not just into the mind, where it had already been partially experienced before, but into every part of the personality. The receiver swoons with the sheer delight of…