Thanks for your courteous reply.
Yes, I think we agree on the issue. I just wanted to emphasize that prayer is what we should focus on. I just finished reading St. Bonaventure's "Life of St. Francis".
Here is what Francis has to say on the issue (which is why I brought it up, as I had been reading it while seeing your post!)
"Once the friars asked Francis whether he was pleased that the learned men who had by that time been received into the Order should devote themselves to the study of Sacred Scripture. He replied "I am indeed pleased, as long as they do not neglect application to prayer, after the example of Christ, of whom we read that He prayed more than he read, and as long as they study not only in order to know what they should say but in order to practice what they have heard and when they have put it into practice themselves to propose it to others likewise." (Para 1, Chapter 11)
I think one could multiply such quotes numerous times, regarding the saints, those who have through their lives, most readily put on Christ. It would be most difficult to find someone who emulated Christ more than Francis did, to include receiving the stigmata - a true sign to others that he had indeed become "another Christ".
Regards
Refreshing to find some amicable discussion and agreement between two Brothers amidst all of these imperious barbs being hurled about. What grief the Holy Spirit must endure at the haughtiness of men.
Indeed, I fear there will be hardliners on all sides in Hell; meticulous followers of every tradition who will be, at last, enternally damned.
Why?
Because, in all of the painstaking adherence to avery "jot and tittle", they misses the redemption God poured out at the cross. Without that redemption nothing else is of any eternal value. Knowing the meaning of the words -- redemption, reconciliation, salvation, etc. -- matters not at all if these have not been personally apprehended.
Now THAT'S a tragedy.
Jesus' blood has been spilled to pay the sin-price to redeem all, removing the judgement of God from us and opening the way for personal reconciliation with Him such that we can be saved from God's wrath, which He will pour out eternally upon the finally unrepentant. The cross of Christ is a spiritual amnesty; a window of opportunity to reconcile our relationship with God and receive salvation from His coming wrath and damnation. But that amnesty has an expiration date after which no-one else may avail themselves of God's grace and the time grows perilously short.
So, then, shall we waste this precious time bickering amongst ourselves like madmen whilst the unredeemed hurtle headlong toward the fiery Abyss?? Forbid it Lord God! Brothers, what account would we then make to The Almighty for this poor stewardship?? I would that none here must stand ashamed in this regard. To us has been given the Ministry of Reconciliation and we are Christ's Ambassadors. His command is not to "stay and argue" but to "go and make disciples."
Therefore, I urge that you do away with these strivings and go out into the streets and hedgerows bidding all you meet "Come in to the wedding feast of The Lamb." Be to the lost the witness Christ has made you to be that your reward in Heaven will be great; that many will be able to stand before God on that Day because you stood before them as His witness in this day.
Grace to you all, In Christ Jesus our Lord.