{"id":77081,"date":"2025-01-10T12:36:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T11:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/laroma-del-vangelo\/"},"modified":"2025-01-10T12:38:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T11:38:23","slug":"laroma-del-vangelo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/laroma-del-vangelo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fragrance of the Gospel"},"content":{"rendered":"

CFF Continuing Formation in Chicago <\/em><\/p>\n

One of Pope Francis\u2019 most striking expressions was addressed to priests: \u201cBe shepherds, with the odor of sheep\u201d (Chrism Mass, March 28, 2013). It is a beautiful and provocative call to the Gospel, emphasizing God\u2019s solidarity with all humanity, even to the point of sharing the same conditions with the poorest. It certainly calls us to imagine the Child Jesus lying in the manger, as first announced and encountered by shepherds (cf. Luke 2), who were the only ones who perceived His scent as the Messiah, a descendant of David, the Shepherd-King.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like the shepherds in the Gospel, some solemnly professed friars from the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF) gathered in Chicago for a spiritual retreat at the St. Bonaventure Friary on North Kenmore Avenue, where they met around the table of God\u2019s Word during the Christmas liturgy and around the table of fraternity during some shared reflection. Together, they inhaled the fragrance of the Gospel, which never ceases to surprise and amaze.
\nThe retreat was held December 29, 2024, to Jan. 2, 2025. It was characterized by periods of reading and prayer. A lot of time was devoted to sharing at the table during meals, so as to experientially grasp the connection between the fragrance of the Gospel and the odor of the sheep. Those attending the retreat included Friars Antonio MOUALEU, Timothy BLANCHARD, Richard ROME, Christopher Bede THIGPEN, Thomas FETZ, Simon Wahito NJOROGE, Peter Otieno ONYANGO, Christopher Douglas GARCIA, Juan Z\u00da\u00d1IGA L\u00d3PEZ, and Jamie ZARAGOZA. Given their different backgrounds, there was a lively exchange of experiences and personalities. When it came to preparing food, they shared their own recipes and sensibilities, setting the table and serving meals in a distinct manner. Thus, they were able to enjoy an experience of the Word celebrated and fraternally shared in common. They discovered how the Word can comfort, guide, and conform to every taste and palate (cf. Wis 16:20).
\nThe discussion sessions took place in a welcoming and light atmosphere. Topics emerged that were helpful in reflecting on one\u2019s vocation, ministry, fraternal style, and Franciscan spirit. Thanks to the hosting community, the retreatants were able to focus on some small details that shape and express each person’s ministry. However, these details risk diminishing the flavor and effectiveness of their testimony and the authenticity of their Franciscan choice. Placing particular attention on Catholic Social Teaching, the participants were mindful of the terrible problem of food waste: a social expression of a challenging relationship with material goods, consumption, and poverty, and an outward sign of a certain spiritual bulimia.
\nAt the beginning of the 800th<\/sup> anniversary of St. Francis composing the Canticle of the Creatures<\/em>, it seemed fitting to harness all the creativity typical of Franciscan tradition in order to a pause from the usual rhythms of the retreat and instead, reflect, from a global and pastoral perspective, on topics dealing with spiritual life service to the people of God. The friars tried to break free of stereotypes by engaging in intimate conversations around the table, a table where \u201cthose fragrant words of our Lord\u201d (First Version of the Letter to the Faithful<\/em>, chapter II, 19; FF<\/em> 178\/7) pass from the book to the ears, and from the mouth to the heart for the life of the world to which we are sent.<\/p>\n

These books and articles were helpful for the retreat:<\/p>\n

R. Alves, The Poet, the Warrior, the Prophet<\/em>. (Chapter V: \u201cWords Which Are Good to Be Eaten\u201d) London, Scm Press, 2002.<\/p>\n

T. Radcliffe, Affectivity and the Eucharist<\/em> https:\/\/www.thinkingfaith.org\/articles\/affectivity-and-eucharist#main-content, 2024;<\/p>\n

T. Radcliffe, The Resurrection and Breakfast Conversation<\/em>(Synod Meditation, October 1, 2024) https:\/\/www.vaticannews.va\/en\/vatican-city\/news\/2024-10\/synod-retreat-meditation-radcliffe-resurrection-2-breakfast.html<\/p>\n

A. Schmemann, For the Life of the World<\/em>. St Vladimir\u2019s Seminary Press, 1973.<\/p>\n

Friar Michael LASKY
\nFriar Emanuel RIMOLI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CFF Continuing Formation in Chicago  One of Pope Francis\u2019 most striking expressions was addressed to priests: \u201cBe shepherds, with the odor of sheep\u201d (Chrism Mass, March 28, 2013). It is a beautiful and provocative call to the Gospel, emphasizing God\u2019s solidarity with all humanity, even to the point of sharing the same conditions with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":77077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[105,132,148],"tags":[2078],"class_list":["post-77081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cff-en","category-federations","category-news","tag-retreat"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofmconv.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}