Does anyone on this forum go to church?

[Chris Blewett]

I think that the Headmistress' Secretary, Miss Gamble, belonged to a religious order 'in the world', when I was at school. What is a 'Franciscan Tertiary'?. Maybe she was one...

Kerren - A Franciscan Tertiary (if Anglican) is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis. Founded in the 13th Century by St. Francis himself for lay and ordained people who wished to live a life under Rule (very very basically Poverty, Chastity and Obedience) whilst living 'in the world'. If you want to explore see www.tssf.org.uk. There is also an equivalent order within the Roman Catholic Church.

[englishangel]

God and his conversation with St. Francis.



GOD:
Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

St. FRANCIS:
It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD:
Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS:
Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green.. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD:
The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS:
Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD:
They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS:
Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD:
They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS:
No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD:
Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS:
Yes, Sir.

GOD:
These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS:
You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD:
What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS:
You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD:
No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST.. FRANCIS:
After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD:
And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS:
They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD:
Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're
In charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE:
'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....

GOD:
Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

[Chris Blewett]

Very good!!!!!

but......



Shouldn't that be on the Jokes thread?? (?? )

[englishangel]

Yes.

But I thought it more appropriate for here.

[Chris Blewett]

Just being playful!!!

[Great Plum]

Chris, I have no doubt you are different from my mother in law!

[Angela Woodford]

I think that the Headmistress' Secretary, Miss Gamble, belonged to a religious order 'in the world', when I was at school. What is a 'Franciscan Tertiary'?. Maybe she was one...

ISTR that you believed Miss Gamble to belong to the Poor Clares, Kerren?

[Chris Blewett]

Now that would be interesting - I thought the Poor Clares (otherwise known as the Franciscan 2nd Order) were an enclosed order?? So the in the world bit wouldn't work????

[kerrensimmonds]

I don't know the definition of 'enclosed' but there is a community of Poor Clares just outside Arundel. They are very much also part of the local community and welcome visitors. They even give away stuff on Freecycle!

[Angela Woodford]

But I regret that Miss Gamble did not strike me as being spiritual in any way, although others may have seen her in a different light.

[kerrensimmonds]

All I do know is that Miss Gamble lived a religious life 'in the world' - but until I get myself properly unpacked and find 'Half to Remember', I don't know to which Order she belonged.

[Chris Blewett]

Thanks for that about the Arundel Poor Clares - I shall have to remember that!

[Chris Blewett]

I am always interested in co-incidence........

So it was interesting to be speaking on the phone to the owner of a Christian Book Shop in Cambridge a couple of days ago...... it transpires that she spent a few days some years ago testing her vocation.....at the Poor Clares House in Arundel. I'm looking forward to meeting her and learning more about the order

[kerrensimmonds]

Please keep us posted, Chris?!

[Chris Blewett]

I will try and remember to Kerren.....but I've been off work since early January with an injury and now apparantly I have work related stress to contend with - so my memory is a little all over the place I've only just realised that today is Monday!!! and NO its not my age!!!