// JavaScript Document
//This code was originally written by
//Frank P. Boimare III, Postulant (August 31, 1997), TSSF
<!-- Hide this code from non-JavaScript browsers.

//The following code reads the day of the month (1-31).
function todays() {
today = new Date();
day = today.getDate();

//TSSF Principle for the current day of the month
with (document)
{
while (day==1)
{
writeln("<h2>Day One - The Object</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Jesus said, &quot;Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into");
writeln("the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much");
writeln("fruit.  Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this");
writeln("world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and");
writeln("where I am, there will my servant be also.  Whoever serves me, the Father");
writeln("will honor.&quot; <i>John 12:24-26.</i>");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==2)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Two - The Object, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("By the example of his own sacrifice, Jesus reveals the secret of bearing");
writeln("fruit.  In surrendering himself to death, he becomes the source of new life.");
writeln("Lifted from the earth on the cross, he draws all people to himself.  Clinging");
writeln("to life causes life to decay; the life that is freely given is eternal.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==3)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Three - The Object, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Jesus calls those who would serve him to follow his example and choose");
writeln("for themselves the same path of renunciation and sacrifice.  To those who");
writeln("hear and obey he promises union with God.");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("The object of the Society of Saint Francis is to build a community of those");
writeln("who accept Christ as their Lord and Master and are dedicated to him in");
writeln("body and spirit.  They surrender their lives to him and to the service of his");
writeln("people.  The Third Order of the Society consists of those who, while");
writeln("following the ordinary professions of life, feel called to dedicate their lives");
writeln("under a definite discipline and vows.  They may be female or male, married");
writeln("or single, ordained or lay.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==4)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Four - The Object, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("When Saint Francis encouraged the formation of the Third Order he");
writeln("recognized that many are called to serve God in the spirit of Poverty,");
writeln("Chastity, and Obedience in everyday life (rather than in a literal");
writeln("acceptance of these principles as in the vows of the Brothers and Sisters");
writeln("of the First and Second Orders).  The Rule of the Third Order is intended");
writeln("to enable the duties and conditions of daily living to be carried out in this");
writeln("spirit.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==5)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Five - The First Aim of the Order</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("<b>To make our Lord known and loved everywhere.</b>");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("The Order is founded on the conviction that Jesus Christ is the perfect");
writeln("revelation of God; that true life has been made available to us through his");
writeln("Incarnation and Ministry, by his Cross and Resurrection, and by the");
writeln("sending of his Holy Spirit.  The Order believes that it is the commission of");
writeln("the church to make the gospel known to all and therefore accepts the duty");
writeln("of bringing others to know Christ, and of praying and working for the");
writeln("coming of the of the Kingdom of God.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==6)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Six - The First Aim, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("The primary aim of the tertiaries is therefore to make Christ known.  This");
writeln("shapes our lives and attitudes to reflect the obedience of those whom our");
writeln("Lord chose to be with him and sent out as his witnesses.  Like them,");
writeln("by word and example, we bear witness to Christ in our own");
writeln("immediate environment and pray and work for the fulfillment of his");
writeln("command to make disciples of all nations.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==7)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Seven - The Second Aim</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("<b>To spread the spirit of love and  harmony</b>");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("The Order sets out, in the name of Christ, to break down barriers between");
writeln("people and to seek equality for all.");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("We accept as our second aim the spreading of a spirit of love and");
writeln("harmony among all people.  We are pledged to fight against the");
writeln("ignorance, pride, and prejudice that breed injustice or partiality of");
writeln("any kind.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==8)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Eight - The Second Aim, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Tertiaries fight against all such injustice in the name of Christ, in whom");
writeln("there can be neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female; for in");
writeln("him all are one.  Our chief object is to reflect that openness to all which");
writeln("was characteristic of Jesus.  This can only be achieved in a spirit of");
writeln("chastity which sees others as belonging to God and not as a means of");
writeln("self-fulfillment.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==9)
{
writeln("Day Nine - The Second Aim, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("</p>");
writeln("As Tertiaries, we are prepared not only to speak out for social justice and");
writeln("international peace, but to put these principles into practice in our own");
writeln("lives, cheerfully facing any scorn or persecution to which this may lead.");
writeln("<p>");
break
}
while (day==10)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Ten - The Third Aim</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("<b>To live simply</b>");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("The first Christians surrendered completely to our Lord and recklessly");
writeln("gave all that they had, offering the world a new vision of a society in which");
writeln("a fresh attitude was taken towards material possessions.  This vision was");
writeln("renewed by Saint Francis when he chose Lady Poverty as his bride,");
writeln("desiring that all barriers set up by privilege based on wealth should be");
writeln("overcome by love.  This is the inspiration for the third aim of the Society,");
writeln("to live simply.");
writeln("<p>");
break
}
while (day==11)
{
writeln("<p>");writeln("<h2>Day Eleven - The Third Aim, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Although we possess property and earn money to support");
writeln("ourselves and our families, we show ourselves true followers of Christ");
writeln("and of Saint Francis by our readiness to live simply and to share with");
writeln("others.  We recognize that some of their members may be called to a");
writeln("literal following of Saint Francis in a life of extreme simplicity.  All,");
writeln("however, accept that we avoid luxury and waste, and regard our");
writeln("possessions as being held in trust for God.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==12)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twelve - The Third Aim, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Personal spending is limited to what is necessary for the health and well-");
writeln("being of ourselves and that of our dependents.  We aim to stay free from");
writeln("all attachment to wealth, keeping ourselves constantly aware of the");
writeln("poverty in the world and its claim on us.  We are concerned more");
writeln("for the generosity that gives all, rather than the value of poverty in itself.");
writeln("In this way we reflect in spirit the acceptance of Jesus' challenge to sell");
writeln("all, give to the poor, and follow him.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==13)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Thirteen - The Three Ways of Service</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Tertiaries desire to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, whom we");
writeln("serve in the three ways of Prayer, Study, and Work.  In the life of the Order");
writeln("as a whole these three ways must each find full and balanced expression,");
writeln("but it is not to be expected that all members devote themselves equally to");
writeln("each of them.  Each individual's service varies according to his/her abilities");
writeln("and circumstances, yet the member's personal rule of life includes each of");
writeln("the three ways.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==14)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Fourteen - The First Way of Service - Prayer</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Tertiaries seek to live in an atmosphere of praise and prayer.  We aim to");
writeln("be constantly aware of God's presence, so that theywemay indeed pray");
writeln("without ceasing.  Our ever deepening devotion to the indwelling Christ is");
writeln("a source of strength and joy.  It is Christ's love that inspires us to");
writeln("service, and strengthens us for sacrifice.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==15)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Fifteen - The First Way of Service, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("The heart of our prayer is the Eucharist, in which we share with other");
writeln("Christians the renewal of their union with our Lord and Savior in his");
writeln("sacrifice, remembering his death and receiving his spiritual food.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==16)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Sixteen - The First Way of Service, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Tertiaries recognize the power of intercessory prayer for furthering the");
writeln("purposes of God's kingdom, and therefore seek a deepening communion");
writeln("with God in personal devotion, and constantly intercede for the needs of");
writeln("his church and his world.  Those of us who have much time at their disposal");
writeln("give prayer a large part in our daily lives.  Those of us with less time must not");
writeln("fail to see the importance of prayer and to guard the time they have allotted");
writeln("to it from interruption.  Lastly, we are encouraged to avail ourselves");
writeln("of the sacrament of Reconciliation, through which the burden of past sin");
writeln("and failure is lifted and peace and hope restored.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==17)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Seventeen - The Second Way of Service - Study</h2><p>");
writeln("&quot;And this is eternal life: that they may know you the only true God,");
writeln(" and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.&quot; <i>John 17:3</i>");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("True knowledge is knowledge of God.  Tertiaries therefore give priority");
writeln("to devotional study of scripture as one of the chief means of attaining that");
writeln("knowledge of God which leads to eternal life.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==18)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Eighteen - The Second Way of Service, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("As well as the devotional study of Scripture, all recognize their Christian");
writeln("responsibility to pursue other branches of study, both sacred and secular.");
writeln("In particular some of us accept the duty of");
writeln("contributing, through research and writing, to a better understanding");
writeln("of the church's mission in the world: the application of Christian principles");
writeln("to the use and distribution of wealth; questions concerning justice and");
writeln("peace; and of all other questions concerning the life of faith.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==19)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Nineteen - The Third Way of Service - Work</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Jesus took on himself the form of a servant.  He came not to be served, but");
writeln("to serve.  He went about doing good: healing the sick, preaching good");
writeln("news to the poor, and binding up the broken hearted.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==20)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty - The Third Way of Service, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Tertiaries endeavor to serve others in active work.  We try to find");
writeln("expression for each of the three aims of the Order in their lives, and");
writeln("whenever possible actively help others who are engaged in similar work.");
writeln("The chief form of service which we have to offer is to reflect the");
writeln("love of Christ, who, in his beauty and power, is the inspiration and joy of");
writeln("our lives.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==21)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty One - The Three Notes of the Order</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Humility, love, and joy are the three notes which mark the lives of");
writeln("Tertiaries.  When these characteristics are evident throughout the Order,");
writeln("its work will be fruitful.  Without them, all that it attempts will be in vain.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==22)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Two - The First Note - Humility</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("We always keep before them the example of Christ, who emptied");
writeln("himself, taking the form of a servant, and who, on the last night of his life,");
writeln("humbly washed his disciples' feet.  We likewise seek to serve one another");
writeln("with humility.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==23)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Three - The First Note, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Humility confesses that we have nothing that we have not received and");
writeln("admits the fact of our insufficiency and our dependence upon God.  It is");
writeln("the basis of all Christian virtues.  Saint Bernard of Clairvaux said,");
writeln("&quot;No spiritual house can stand for a moment except on the");
writeln("foundation of humility.&quot;  It is the first condition of a joyful life");
writeln("within any community.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==24)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Four - The First Note, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("The faults we see in others are the subject of prayer rather than of");
writeln("criticism.  We take care to cast out the beam from our own eye before");
writeln("offering to remove the speck from another's.  We are ready to accept the");
writeln("lowest place when asked and to volunteer to take it.  Nevertheless, when");
writeln("asked to undertake work of which we feel unworthy or incapable, we do");
writeln("not shrink from it on the grounds of humility, but confidently attempt it");
writeln("through the power that is made perfect in weakness.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==25)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Five - The Second Note - Love</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Jesus said, &quot;I give you a new commandment: love one another.");
writeln("Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this");
writeln("everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one");
writeln("another.&quot; <i>John 13:34-35</i>");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("Love is the distinguishing feature of all true disciples of Christ who wish");
writeln("to dedicate themselves to him as his servants.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==26)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Six - The Second Note, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Therefore, we seek to love all those to whom we are bound by ties");
writeln("of family or friendship.  Our love for them increases as our love for");
writeln("Christ grows deeper.");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("We have a special love and affection for members of the Third Order,");
writeln("praying for each other individually and seeking to grow in that love.  We");
writeln("are on their guard against anything which might injure this love, and we");
writeln("seek reconciliation with those from whom we are estranged.  We seek");
writeln("the same love for those with whom we have little natural affinity, for this");
writeln("kind of love is not a welling up of emotion, but is a bond founded in our");
writeln("common union with Christ.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==27)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Seven - The Second Note, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("The Third Order is Christian community whose members, although varied");
writeln("in race, education and character, are bound into a living whole through the");
writeln("love they share in Christ.  This unity of all who believe in him will");
writeln("become, as our Lord intended, a witness to the world of his divine mission.");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("In our relationship with those outside the Order we show the same");
writeln("Christ-like love and gladly give of ourselves, remembering that love is");
writeln("measured by sacrifice.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==28)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Eight - The Third Note - Joy</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Tertiaries, rejoicing in the Lord always, show in their lives the grace and");
writeln("beauty of divine joy.  We remember that they follow the Son of Man,");
writeln("who came eating and drinking, who loved the birds and the flowers, who");
writeln("blessed little children, who was a friend of tax collectors and sinners, and");
writeln("who sat at the tables of both the rich and the poor.  We delight in fun");
writeln("and laughter, rejoicing in God's world, its beauty and its living creatures,");
writeln("calling nothing common or unclean.  We mix freely with all people,");
writeln("ready to bind up the broken-hearted, and to bring joy into the lives of");
writeln("others.  We carry within them an inner peace and happiness which others");
writeln("may perceive, even if they do not know its source.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==29)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Twenty Nine - The Third Note, cont'd</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("This joy is a divine gift, coming from union with God in Christ.  It is still");
writeln("there even in times of darkness and difficulty, giving cheerful courage in");
writeln("the face of disappointment, and an inward serenity and confidence through");
writeln("sickness and suffering.  Those who possess it can rejoice in weakness,");
writeln("insults, hardship, and persecutions for Christ's sake; for when they are");
writeln("weak, then they are strong.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==30)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Thirty - The Three Notes</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("The humility, love and joy which mark the lives of tertiaries are all God");
writeln("given graces.  They can never be obtained by human effort.  They are gifts");
writeln("of the Holy Spirit.  The purpose of Christ is to work miracles through");
writeln("people who are willing to be emptied of self and to surrender to him.  We");
writeln("then become channels of grace through whom his mighty work is done.");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
while (day==31)
{
writeln("<h2>Day Thirty - The Three Notes</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("The humility, love and joy which mark the lives of tertiaries are all God");
writeln("given graces.  They can never be obtained by human effort.  They are gifts");
writeln("of the Holy Spirit.  The purpose of Christ is to work miracles through");
writeln("people who are willing to be emptied of self and to surrender to him.  We");
writeln("then become channels of grace through whom his mighty work is done.");
writeln("</p><p>");
writeln("<font size=-1><i>There is no reading specified for Day 31, so the reading");
writeln("for Day 30 is repeated here.  You could also read the complete");
writeln("&quot;Principles&quot; or something from other Franciscan writings.</i>");
writeln("</p>");
break
}
}
}

function collect() {
	today=new Date();
	thisDay=today.getDay();
with (document)
{
switch (thisDay) {
case 0:
writeln("<h2>Sunday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Almighty God, your love led Francis and Clare to establish our three orders: draw us into your love that we may grow in love towards all those we know, for the sake of you Son, Jesus Christ, who gives himself in love to all. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
case 1:
writeln("<h2>Monday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Heavenly Father, you are always pleased to show yourself to those who are childlike and humble in spirit: help us to follow the example of our blessed father Francis, to look upon the wisdom of this world as foolishness, and set our minds only on Christ and him crucified; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all glory for ever. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
case 2:
writeln("<h2>Tuesday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("O God, you resist the pround and give grace to the humble: help us not to think proudly, but to serve you with humility that pleases you, so we may walk in the steps of your servant Francis and receive the gift of your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
case 3:
writeln("<h2>Wednesday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Merciful god, you have made your church rich through the poverty of blessed Francis: help us, like him, not to trust in earthly things, but to seek your heavenly gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
case 4:
writeln("<h2>Thursday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Lord, without you our labor is wasted, but with you all who are weak can find strength: pour your Spirit on the Society of Saint Francis; give your laborers a pure intention, patient faith, sufficient success on earth, and the joy of serving you in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
case 5:
writeln("<h2>Friday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("Lord Jesus, in your servant Francis you displayed the wonderful power of the cross: help us always to follow you in the way of the cross, and give us strength to resist all temptation; to you, Lord, with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all glory for ever. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
case 6:
writeln("<h2>Saturday</h2>");
writeln("<p>");
writeln("O God, by the life of blessed Francis you moved your people to a love of simple things: may we, afther his example, hold lightly to the things of this world and to store up for ourselves treasure in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.");
writeln("</p>");
break;
}//switch
}//with
}//function