Dying, As A Franciscan

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Title Page

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pp. 1-

Copyright

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pp. 2-

Contents

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pp. iii-iv

Our Contributors

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pp. 5-

Introduction

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pp. 7-10

Many of us within the Franciscan Family of the twenty-first century – friars, sisters, seculars and all those associated in any way with the Poverello of Assisi – find ourselves surrounded by those within our own communities and families who are in need of accompaniment and companionship as they walk the road toward the fullness of life. And...

“Dying, as a Franciscan”: Transitus Homily

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pp. 11-13

The men and women of the Middle Ages had a word, a phrase, to describe us: each one of us was a homo viator – a human person on the road, on a journey (from one place to another). The story we have heard this evening – the two stories intertwined with each other into one – is the story of such a journey. And we have been privileged to...

“Fixed with Christ to the Cross”: Dying in the Franciscan Tradition

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pp. 15-29

Members of the Franciscan family follow “the footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ” (ER 1) by following the examples of Francis and Clare. Since example was a critical dimension in the lives of both of these saints, the early Franciscan family considered stories to be important. It is no accident that in the years after their deaths, stories and...

Praised Be My Lord Through Sister Death: A Franciscan Spirituality of Dying

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pp. 31-39

When the topic for this year’s Symposium was first announced as “Dying, as a Franciscan,” Anthony Carrozzo, with whom I collaborate in The Franciscan Center for Spirituality and Spiritual Direction, commented to me, “I didn’t know that Franciscans died any differently than anyone else!” Anthony likes to tease, but I also took this as a challenge

“I Beg All My Brothers and Sisters Not to be Disturbed or Angry in their Infirmities”: Transition and Loss at the End of Life

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pp. 41-43

I’ve learned many things throughout my life especially from living in and with other cultures. During my years in Papua New Guinea, I came to appreciate the New Guineans’ use of inductive reasoning. We westerners go from the general to the particular (deductive), while most often the New Guineans move from the particular to the general...

I beg all my brothers and sisters, etc. ...

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pp. 45-49

...Was I the conduit through which the transition occurred? Or was I merely affected by the transition? As Franciscans when we pause to examine these periods, we view them in the context of the deep relationship which God maintains with each of us. Thus, we will discover that in our transitions we are not alone. God is with us continually...

She Cared for her Sick Sisters …

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pp. 51-59

...I chose this poem by David Whyte because I believe that it invites us into a space which is very Franciscan as we consider caring for our own. It invites us to allow the hand of the invisible carver to bring the deep grains of love to the surface; thus, it implies, there is a deep love within each of us waiting to be unleashed. Even in those among us who...

When the Hour of his Passing was Approaching –Ethical Issues in Care at the End of Life

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pp. 61-77

We are going to be taking a look at a different technicality. When we talk about death we are going to take a few steps back before death. And I must offer this disclaimer: these are my views and do not represent the opinions of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. I’m going to talk about ethical issues when you’re caring for people...

He Knew Long in Advance the Time of his Death: Ethical Issues in End-of-Life Planning

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pp. 79-90

Do Franciscans die differently from other people? At first glance, this seems to be a meaningless question. Franciscans face the same end-of-life issues that others do. The ethical issues involved in end-of-life care decisions – and consequently in the planning for the end of life – are no different for members of the Franciscan family than for other...

Signs of Future Glory: Ethical Issues after Death

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pp. 91-103

Ethical questions don’t end when someone is actually dead so it may be wise to cover some of these topics, both in ethics and in spirituality, as well as bereavement before we move into the final session. Specifically I’m going to talk about two ways to determine that somebody is dead. I’ll also talk about organ donation, autopsy, death certificates,...

“Dying, as a Franciscan”: Concluding Euchcharistic Homily [Includes list of related Titles]

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pp. 105-107

Some of us, like myself, on this sacred but rough-and-tumble journey of life – often because of the driven pace of our lives – are harder than others on our feet. And those of us who have this difficulty know the comfort truly blessed that comes when someone pours soothing oil or cream, like a healing balm, over one’s feet: slowly, patiently kneading...