CHA is pleased to offer a reflection card for your use for the Feast of St. Francis.  Cards are available in packs of 50.  Please order today and spread them widely in your organization (as appropriate and safe) by offering at welcome desks, in chapels, staff break rooms, waiting areas, etc.  In addition to the hardcopy card, you can download this card as a two-slide PowerPoint for your use in virtual meetings and to share (slides each contain a jpeg you can copy) on screens throughout your organization and facilities.  Our 2021 Feast of St. Francis resources are available here .

FRONT TEXT

"Enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, sure hope and perfect charity.  Fill me with understanding and knowledge that I may fulfill your command."    Saint Francis of Assisi

In this brief prayer, Sr. Francis asks to be filled with that which will allow him to fulfill God's command to love with all of who we are.  Even down to the smallest member of God's blessed creation, we are called to love.  Clean water gives nutrients to the trees, which cleans the air that fills our lungs.  We use our lungs to advocate with and for the poor and vulnerable so that our love may be felt and all may flourish.

BACK TEXT

A Reflection

In Laudato Sí, Pope Francis' letter on the environment, the teachings of St. Francis are foundational:

"Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically [1].  Indeed, through the legacy of St. Francis we are each invited to use our gifts and talents to build up a living ecosystem wherein each part is integrated to the good of the whole, and wherein we might create the social conditions necessary to realize human fulfillment and thriving."

• What has God already given you that has helped you to love?
• What dark corners of your heart could use come light?
• How can such light and understanding help us to expand our love of neighbor to include all of God's blessed creation?