October 4 2019 - St. Francis of Assisi and the Crucifix

During the period of his life in which he experienced great spiritual awakening, St. Francis would go to the old ruined chapel of San Damiano to pray. In that dilapidated oratory still hung a Byzantine wooden crucifix, painted in red, gold, and black, depicting  not the tortured Christ of later art, not with the crown of thorns, but a glorious halo, and with the large, open, eyes of the Crucified gazing back upon the faithful, showing his wounds, perhaps as an invitation to imitate him in his Passion, that we too may experience his glory.

We know well the story of how Francis heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him from that crucifix, “Francis, Go repair my Church, which as you see is falling completely in ruin.” And how Francis first, took the words literally, but then went on to bring great renewal to the Church this his life of poverty, penance and evangelization.

Lesser known, perhaps, are the words that Francis spoke back to that crucifix, which contain a summation of his desire to serve the Lord, a prayerful petition for the grace he needed to be faithful to his calling: “Most High glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity. Give me, Lord, wisdom and discernment, so I can always observe your truth and Holy Will.”

Francis experienced a profound out-pouring of God’s love when he gazed upon the crucifix, and desired to respond in kind, with a sacrificial love that embraced suffering for the good of the Church.
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world,” we heard in Paul’s words to the Galatians this morning. Francis, like Paul sought that perfect-identification with and imitation of the crucified one who suffers for our salvation. And Like Paul, St. Francis would go on to bear the marks of Jesus on his body, signs of his union with Christ in his willingness to suffer for the Gospel.

May Francis assist us in embracing the cross, in seeking the right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity of the Christian life, the wisdom and discernment to observe God truth and Holy Will for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis on this his patronal feast, for the grace to bring renewal to those parts of the Church which are crumbling—a renewal of true faith, where faith has diminished or been corrupted.
For blessings upon all members of the Franciscan Orders, for vocations and that their witness may bring renewal to the Church.
For hope for the despairing and all those who suffer.
For the grace of perfect charity to fill our hearts for those in need.
That all God’s Holy People will be filled with the wisdom and discernment needed to know and obey God’s Holy Will.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

July 15 2019 - St. Bonaventure - Burning Love

When I visited Assisi a few weeks ago, I was able to spend some time praying before the famous cross of San Damiano—the cross from which St. Francis of Assisi heard Our Blessed Lord commissioning him to rebuild his Church. After literally rebuilding the chapel of San Damiano that had fallen into ruins, Francis went on a crusade across Europe, rebuilding the Church spiritually through his preaching and witnessing to the Gospel through his radical poverty.

Born in 1217,  Bonaventure entered the newly formed Franciscan order, just around 20 years after the death of Francis. It became clear that his intellectual gifts would benefit the Order greatly, so he was sent to the great University of Paris, where he soon became a professor of theology.

Bonaventure is often called the “second Founder” of the Franciscans because of the great impact he had on the order, particularly in stressing the importance of study and loving Christ with a burning heart.

There is no other path (to heaven, to God, to happiness),” he writes, “but through the burning love of the Crucified.” Only a “raging fire” in our soul, a fire of “intense fervor” and “glowing love” can carry our soul to God. 

Bonaventure used his intellectual gifts to help souls discover that burning love for the Crucified. We no doubt are called to use whatever gifts we have to do the same, to bring spiritual vitality to the Church through works of charity.

As minister general of the Franciscans, when already that young Order was beginning to experience some splintering into different factions, Bonaventure stressed compassion for the poor, simplicity of life, detachment from riches, hard work, prayer, and study, to seek to love and imitate Our Blessed Lord Jesus in all things.

St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church, wrote, “Whoever wishes to ascend to God must first avoid sin, which deforms our nature; he must pray to receive restoring grace; he must lead a good life, to receive purifying justice; he must meditate, to receive illuminating knowledge; he must practice contemplation, to receive perfecting wisdom.” 

May we then follow the good Doctor’s advice, by avoiding sin, praying for healing grace, meditating on the truths of the Gospel, and practicing the contemplation of God, that our hearts may be set afire with divine love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That all Christians may have a burning love for the Crucified-and-Risen Lord, and that love may be seen in the priorities of their life.

That the work and ministry of all Franciscan organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

For the purification of our minds and hearts from the errors of the culture and from the lure of worldly attachments.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord