FRIARY RETREAT

 

(Fr. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv.)

 

Fr. Wayne Hellmann, a Conventual Franciscan,  who is part of the faculty at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO,   and a noted Franciscan scholar,  was the presenter for the annual retreat here at the Interprovincial Prayer Fraternity held from October 28 to November 2.    The theme of the retreat was "St. Francis and Prayer" and focused on the number of different prayers that are in the Franciscan sources and attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.  

 

Fr. Wayne began by reflecting upon Francis'  Prayer before the Crucifix, mapped out  the developments that we can find in Francis' own prayer as told by St. Thomas of Celano in his LIFES OF ST. FRANCIS, and then he reflected upon a number of different prayers of St. Francis all leading up to the great Canticle of Creatures that was written by Francis shortly before his death in 1226.

 

As a community, we say THANK YOU to Fr. Wayne for the gift that he gave to us and to the three friars who were also present for the retreat.   We wish him grace and blessings upon his ministry to the students at St. Louis University and to his work for Franciscans around the world.