Poverty: The Ordinary Path to Sanctity
On this special Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi we take a close look at the evangelical counsel of poverty. How do we properly understand poverty in the context of our state of life? What does it mean and how can we all strive to live it? There is a power to poverty and a blessing to be “poor in spirit”. The lives of Jesus and St. Francis also point us in a direction of social justice and preferential option for the materially poor. We are called to be united in solidarity with the poor, the childlike, and those who are often forgotten by others. We will discover what it means to ask God to “give us our daily bread” and trust in Divine Providence. Not just a spiritual reality in our prayer life, we hope to discover new ways we can practically embrace poverty and simplicity in our daily lives. The retreat will include prayer, Mass, and some presentations and practical exercises to come to deeper understanding of poverty and the important role it plays in our universal call to holiness.
Our Friends Day of Prayer retreats are held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. Everyone is welcome to attend and you can drop into any month. It’s not required to attend every retreat. Everyone will gather for coffee and pastries for the first half hour. Fr. Matt will give a morning presentation, and then he will celebrate Mass in the Chapel afterwards. A delicious lunch will be served and then he will give an afternoon presentation. Free time will be offered to walk the labyrinth, spend quiet time in prayer or shop in the bookstore.
Fr. Matthew Buening grew up in Howard County and went to seminary at the North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 2003 for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He currently is pastor of St. Matthew and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Baltimore City.
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