Franciscans and Liturgical Life: Let Us Praise, Adore and Give Thanks

About two years before he died, Francis of Assisi composed his Canticle of the Creatures. Although he was very ill, blind, and near death, this light-filled hymn emerged from his inner depths as a song of praise and glory resounding throughout the whole creation. The Canticle, in a sense, recapitulated the life of Francis, a life of prayer, praise and adoration to the living God of overflowing love. His fidelity to the Liturgy of the Hours, his sacramental view of creation and his Christ-centeredness, all reflected in the Canticle, remind us that Francis's life was, at its core, a liturgical life.As these papers on Franciscan liturgical life were presented at the Washington Theological Union Symposium in 2006, one could hear whispered among the participants: Are not our hearts burning wthin us? May the fire of the Spirit illuminating this volume of excellent scholarship ignite within its readers a creative spirit of prayer so that our lives may be lifted up in praise, adoration and thanksgiving to a God of generous love and great humility.In 2001, the English Speaking Conference of the orders of Friars Minor (ESC), in collaboration with Franciscan theological schools of the English-speaking world, committed itself to promoting the renewal of Franciscan theological and intellectual formation among the members of the Franciscan family. This promotion as a twofold purpose: to help members understand the beauty and wealth of the Franciscan intellectual tradition and to extend to the whole Franciscan family and to society the intellectual heritage of the Franciscan school so that it can support effective evangelization. This series of publications aims to carry forward this purpose. It is hoped that, with hope, joy and enthusiasm, Franciscans can once again look at their intellectual history, make it part of their lives, and prepare to become better proclaimers of the Word to the world.