Greetings friends, and welcome to the Fall term!
In all of our reading and studying, we know that St. Francis of Assisi, in his radical love for the poor and marginalized, lived a life of deep solidarity and action. But we need to take more than knowledge from the stories of his deeds.
His example challenges us to join those who struggle to be heard, and to walk — purposefully! — alongside them, embracing joys, struggles, and voices. St. Francis’ call to see God in each other is an active invitation to participate in God’s love, urging us to really see the world through the eyes of the poor and those on the margins, so that we may be mutually transformed.
Franciscan spirituality compels us to act, not out of a sense of obligation, but as an expression of our deep contemplation and union with God. Justice is a natural outgrowth of prayer and reflection, a call to live our faith in the world, where our actions mirror God’s love for all creation. In the Canticle of Creatures, St. Francis refers to all his brother and sister creatures—whether minerals, plants, animals with equal dignity. We are also called to be instruments of justice, working towards a world where all creatures can live with dignity, equality, and love.
At the heart of Franciscan scholarship and spirituality is the commitment to justice that is inseparable from mercy, love, and the call to serve. Let us hold this in our hearts as we begin a new academic year.
Peace and All Good,
Darleen Pryds, Ph.D.
Academic Program Director MTS-Franciscan Theology
