Remembering Brother Douglas
Brother Douglas
BROTHER DOUGLAS DOWNES (“Apostle to the Wayfarers”/First Minister of the Society of St Francis)
1878-1957
September 7
Brother Douglas was a priest and an Oxford economics don. Moved by the plight of homeless men living ‘on the road’ in the depression, he helped set up the community at Hilfield Farm to minister to the wayfarers.
Sentence
Happy are those who consider the poor and helpless;
the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble. (Psalm 41:1)
Collect
God of the poor, you called Brother Douglas to care for the poor and helpless: give us grace to see our brother and sister in every person we meet and to deal generously with those in need following the example of our Brother and Lord, your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Readings
Micah 6:6-8
Psalm 68:4-8
2 Corinthians 4:5-15
Matthew 5:1-14
Sentence
All who believed were together and had all things in common. (Acts 2:44)
Source: Third Order, Society of St Francis, Australian Province, Manual. Brother Francis’ memoir of Douglas can be found here.
Franciscan documents 
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