September 14, 2020 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Holy Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

IN 1224, St. Francis of Assisi traveled with about a dozen of his fellow friars, a hundred or so miles from Rome to an isolated mountaintop called La Verna to make a spiritual retreat. Eating little and praying constantly, it is said that at La Verna Francis did great spiritual battle with the powers of evil, encountering great hostility from the devil, as did the old desert fathers like St. Anthony. But Francis also experienced intense moments of communion with God, even levitating far above the ground in raptured prayer. 

On September 14, 1224, just before sunrise, Francis was kneeling in prayer pleaded, “O Lord, I beg of you two graces before I die: to experience in myself in all possible fullness the pains of your cruel passion and to feel for you the same love that made you sacrifice yourself for us.” Suddenly, from the heights of heaven came a seraph with six wings bearing the likeness of the Crucified One. Staring at Francis, he imprinted on the saint’s flesh the marks of crucifixion, the holy Stigmata.

In this powerful story, St. Francis teaches us something quite profound about today’s liturgical feast and really for the Christian life. On this feast, we pray that the cross may be exalted, literally meaning, brought out into the light, that it may be seen and adored and glorified. The Church exalts the cross, that others may come to know, believe in, and love, the one whom upon the cross brought forth our salvation. 

It is said that when St. Francis contemplated the Crucifixion he used to weep, lamenting that, “Love is not loved.” That the love of Jesus Christ shown forth for us on the cross, is ignored by so many. And so he sought, didn’t he, to conform his life as much as possible—through radical poverty, obedience, chastity, preaching, and fasting, and embracing the sufferings of the cross. St. Francis saw in the Cross the humble, self-emptying love of God for us, and so his one great desire was that in everything, he would be conformed to the cross.

The holy stigmata was certainly a sign that Francis conformed himself to the cross: in experiencing the suffering of the cross, and also experiencing the love Christ showed upon the cross. And here is the lesson: we are called to do the same.

This Feast is to remind us that by our lives, we are meant to do the same: to willingly accept the sufferings that come from God, our share in the cross of Christ, in order to make Christ known, and to be animated by the love that Jesus showed on the cross for all, and to hate everything that keeps us from this purpose.

May we strive to live with this depth of faith, hope, and love in the cross and in the crucified one, that we may make him known in all we do, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

Let us pray with confidence to Christ who endured the cross to redeem us.

That Pope Francis and all of the ordained may seek to conform themselves to Christ Crucified in all of their ministerial efforts, especially Bishop Edward Malesic, who will be installed as the Bishop of Cleveland today.

That politicians and government officials will protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the to the example of our Crucified Lord to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race.

That as Our Lord emptied himself upon the cross, we may follow his example of humility in concrete acts of Christian service.

Through the cross, may God grant fortitude and patience to all who through sickness or hardship have a share in Christ’s passion.

That we may all be led through the Lord’s Passion and Cross to the Glory of the Resurrection, especially N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Graciously hear, O God, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in the cross of Christ may never be left without your assistance. Through the same Christ Our Lord.