Third Orders

Yet another of those many saints who died very young was Rose of Viterbo (c.1233-1251), whose feast is today.  She caught my eye for two reasons.  First because she wanted to become a Poor Clare but was seemingly rejected because of her poverty – so ironical!  Second because she was apparently instructed by Our Lady before she was even ten years old to take the habit of the Third Order of St Francis.  This is a reminder that other Religious Orders in the Church have lay branches – I have a friend who is a Lay Dominican for example, and the Third Order Franciscans seem to be very active.  I believe that representatives of the different Religious Orders get together and meet on occasion, and that has led me to wonder whether there should be a forum for the various lay branches to meet together?  It’s just a thought - perhaps I shall have forgotten about it entirely in a few weeks’ time.          

Intercessions:

Brian Davis - cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela), Agnes – cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Rosemarie – seriously ill

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

RIP Roswitha Watson OCDS (former President of St Therese Community, Oxford)

David - housebound