Now You Can Dialogue with St. Francis and Lady Poverty

by Sister Martin on September 27, 2010

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity perform the sacred reading entitled The Dialogue of St. Francis and Lady Poverty as a Readers’ Theatre adaptation of  The Sacred Exchange between St. Francis and Lady Poverty.

Franciscan Sisters Perform Sacred Reading

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity provide Readers' Theatre of the 'Dialogue of St. Francis and Lady Poverty'.

According to Father Regis Armstrong in Francis of Assisi, vol. 1, page 523, the essay was written as an appeal to the friars to return to the “idealism of poverty on which the community of Francis and his followers was built”. Saint Francis’ biblical vision of poverty is presented by Lady Poverty and Francis in the story of salvation history.

The Story

Prologue: Poverty is the most excellent virtue. (4 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Francis seeks Lady Poverty in Assisi and chooses others to join the search. (7:30 min.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lady Poverty welcomes Francis and his brothers on the Mountain part 1. (5:43 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lady Poverty on the Mountain part 2 (5:06 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lady Poverty tells the story of Adam. (6 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Christ Jesus comes to establish the Covenant. 7:20 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Brothers abandon Poverty, follow Greed. (4:12 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Brothers abandon Poverty, follow Greed continued. (4:04 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Brothers abandon Poverty, follow Greed continued. (4:41 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Brothers abandon Poverty, follow Greed continued. (4:07 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lady Poverty confirms brothers ascent; Francis and brothers accept Lady Poverty. (5:30 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Brothers prepare a  banquet for Lady Poverty. (4:30 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lady Poverty asks for Heaven’s blessing. (6:10 min)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Readers (in order of appearance)

Dialogue of St. Francis and Lady Poverty Production Manager and Director

Franciscan Sisters Sister Anne Turba, OSF, and Sister Martin Flavin, OSF, led the production of the Franciscan Sacred Reading.

Narrators: Sister Adrianna Schouten, Sister Judanne Stratman

Lord God: Sister Greta Peter

Francis: Sister Anne Turba

Angelina, Citizen of Assisi: Sister Natalie Binversie

Sophia, Citizen of Assisi: Sister Julie Ann Sheahan

Isabella, Country Woman: Sister Elizabeth Ann Mueller

Paola, Country Woman: Sister Laura Wolf

Lady Poverty: Sister Michaela Melko

Brothers: Sister Helena Young, Sister Delores Wisnicky, Sister Patricia Touhey, Sister Mary Frances Maher, Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, Sister Karen Suhr

Adam: Sister Carol Juckem

Angels: Sister Caritas Strodthoff, Sister Carolee Vanness, Sister Elena Gonzales, Sister Pamela Catherine Peasel

Greed: Sister Emy Beth Furrer

Apostles: Sister Camilla Wolfgram, Sister Isabelle Wilhelm, Sister Monica Martin

Musicians: Sister Carol Juckem, Sister Chiara La Valley

Composer of Music: Sister Carol Juckem

Production Manager: Sister Anne Turba

Director and Author of Dialogue in Dramatic Form: Sister Martin Flavin

[Show picture list]

  • Sister Monica (novice)

    I am so glad that this is up! It sounds great! It's nice to hear Sister Karen's lines again. :) I was flipping through St. Francis of Assisi, volume 1, and came across the original dialog. I am amazed how close the Sacred Reading and the original document are to each other…and thankful that we did it in the play form, because it is easier to understand.

  • http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/ Sister Mary Ann

    The experience of sharing this Spiritual Reading with the entire community was so moving; the depth of aspiring to live the Gospel message together was palpable.

  • Snatalie

    Experiencing the Dialogue that Francis had with Lady Poverty and the interaction with the other characters helped to bring greater understanding to this literary work. It was well worth the time and practice to gift it to others.

  • http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org Sister Julie Ann

    If anyone is wondering just what 'Sister Karen's lines' might be…check out 'Preparing a Banquet for Lady Poverty'. It might make you more curious to check out some of the other chapters;)!

  • Sister Monica (novice)

    :)

  • sannette

    It is so good to see/hear the parts of the Dialogue of St. Francis and Lady Poverty again. It was a memorable part of our summer Community days. It has given me a much greater appreciation for the original document. Thank you for sharing it with us again in this way.

  • Sister Isabelle, Novice

    I am so glad to see this up on the website. I have been waiting for it! It was a such a great experience to be included in this! I really enjoyed listening to it especially Sister Karen's part about the “wretched one”. That is my favorite part in the whole play!

  • http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org Sister Julie Ann

    Sister Karen had more than one of those memorable one-liners! I had forgotten about this one!

  • Sister Monica (novice)

    And, “We are your friends!”

  • http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/ Sister Mary Ann

    Thank you for the excellent presentation of “THe Dialogue” which brings so many memories of good days and nights.

  • Sister Martin

    Thank you for the excellent presentation of “THe Dialogue” which brings so many memories of good days and nights.

  • Shelena

    Thank you Sister Martin and Sister Anne for all the work you put into the production.

    I enjoyed being one of the brothers.

Previous post:

Next post: